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Explaining the Mexican-American Health Paradox Using Selectivity Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Jose N. Martinez
  • Ernesto Aguayo-Tellez
  • Erick Rangel-Gonzalez

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="imre12112-abs-0001"> While typically socioeconomically disadvantaged, Mexican migrants in the United States tend to have better health outcomes than non-Hispanic whites. This phenomenon is known as the “hispanic health paradox”. Using data from Mexico and the United States, we examine several health outcomes for non-Hispanic whites and Mexicans in the United States and in Mexico and employ Blinder–Oaxaca decompositions to help explain the paradox. We find evidence that selectivity is playing a significant role in the relatively healthy status of Mexican migrants in the United States. More importantly, there is evidence that health selectivity is a complex process and its effects typically do not work the same way for different health conditions and across genders. We also find evidence that some of migrants' health advantages are lost as they spend more time in the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Jose N. Martinez & Ernesto Aguayo-Tellez & Erick Rangel-Gonzalez, 2015. "Explaining the Mexican-American Health Paradox Using Selectivity Effects," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(4), pages 878-906, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intmig:v:49:y:2015:i:4:p:878-906
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/imre.2015.49.issue-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Esther Prins & Shannon Monnat, 2015. "Examining Associations between Self-Rated Health and Proficiency in Literacy and Numeracy among Immigrants and U.S.-Born Adults: Evidence from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Com," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-25, July.
    2. Fernando Riosmena & Randall Kuhn & Warren C. Jochem, 2017. "Explaining the Immigrant Health Advantage: Self-selection and Protection in Health-Related Factors Among Five Major National-Origin Immigrant Groups in the United States," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(1), pages 175-200, February.
    3. Antonio Fidalgo & Alberto Holly & Marco Pecoraro & Philippe Wanner, 2016. "A nonparametric analysis of the healthy immigrant effect," IRENE Working Papers 16-15, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    4. Cassie McMillan, 2019. "Tied Together: Adolescent Friendship Networks, Immigrant Status, and Health Outcomes," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(3), pages 1075-1103, June.
    5. Sara Rellstab & Marco Pecoraro & Alberto Holly & Philippe Wanner & Karine Renard, 2016. "The Migrant Health Gap and the Role of Labour Market Status: Evidence from Switzerland," IRENE Working Papers 16-14, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    6. Neil K. Mehta & Irma T. Elo & Michal Engelman & Diane S. Lauderdale & Bert M. Kestenbaum, 2016. "Life Expectancy Among U.S.-born and Foreign-born Older Adults in the United States: Estimates From Linked Social Security and Medicare Data," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(4), pages 1109-1134, August.
    7. Joshua Wassink, 2018. "Uninsured migrants: Health insurance coverage and access to care among Mexican return migrants," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 38(17), pages 401-428.
    8. Paglino, Eugenio & Elo, Irma T., 2025. "US-born and foreign-born life expectancy by race and Hispanic origin before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    9. Reynolds, Megan M. & Chernenko, Alla & Read, Jen'nan Ghazal, 2016. "Region of origin diversity in immigrant health: Moving beyond the Mexican case," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 102-109.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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