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Occupational Safety and English Language Proficiency

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  • Marvasti, Akbar

Abstract

Recent occupational injury data shows a rising trend, which happens to coincide with both increases in the population of foreign born in the U.S. and with changes in its composition. This study aims at exploring the presence of a statistical relationship between occupational injuries and the level of English proficiency of foreign born using cross-sectional data on the rate of injury and count of injury incidents. A cultural gap hypothesis is also examined as an alternative explanation for the rise in work injuries. While there is some support for the adverse effect of inadequate English language proficiency of foreign born, the results for the cultural gap hypothesis are more robust.

Suggested Citation

  • Marvasti, Akbar, 2008. "Occupational Safety and English Language Proficiency," MPRA Paper 14490, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Mar 2009.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:14490
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    Cited by:

    1. Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes & Cristina Borra, 2013. "On the differential impact of the recent economic downturn on work safety by nativity: the Spanish experience," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-26, December.
    2. Pia M. Orrenius & Madeline Zavodny, 2013. "Immigrants in risky occupations," Chapters, in: Amelie F. Constant & Klaus F. Zimmermann (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Migration, chapter 11, pages 214-226, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Martina Cioni & Marco savioli, 2011. "Accidents and illnesses at the workplace Evidence from Italy," Department of Economics University of Siena 608, Department of Economics, University of Siena.
    4. Martina Cioni & Marco Savioli, 2016. "Safety at the workplace: accidents and illnesses," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 30(5), pages 858-875, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    English Proficiency; Occupational Injury;

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General

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