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The Impact of Assimilation on the Earnings of Immigrants: A Reexamination of the Evidence

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  • George J. Borjas

Abstract

This paper reexamines the empirical basisfor two "facts" which seem to be found in most cross-section studies of immigrant earnings: (1) the earnings of immigrants grow rapidly as they assimilate into the U.S.; and (2) this rapid growth leads to many immigrants overtaking the earnings of the native-born within 10-15 years after immigration. Using the 1970 and 1980 U.S.Censuses, this paper studies the earnings growth experienced by specific immigrant cohorts during the 1970-1980 period. It is found that within-cohort growth is significantly smaller than the growth predicted by cross-section regressions for most immigrant groups. This differentialis consistent with the hypothesis that there has been a secular decline in the "quality" of immigrants admitted to the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • George J. Borjas, 1984. "The Impact of Assimilation on the Earnings of Immigrants: A Reexamination of the Evidence," NBER Working Papers 1515, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:1515
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    Cited by:

    1. Nadiya Ukrayinchuk & Olena Havrylchyk, 2020. "Living in limbo: Economic and social costs for refugees," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(4), pages 1523-1551, November.
    2. Jasso, Guillermina & Rosenzweig, Mark R., 1985. "What's In a Name? Country-of-Origin Influences on the Earnings of Immigrants in the United States," Bulletins 8424, University of Minnesota, Economic Development Center.
    3. Jasmin Jakoet, 2006. "Assimilation of Immigrants to the Cape Town Labour Market," SALDRU Working Papers 3, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    4. Gabriele Lucchetti & Alessandro Ruggieri, 2023. "Unlucky migrants: Scarring effect of recessions on the assimilation of the foreign born," Discussion Papers 2023-09, University of Nottingham, GEP.

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