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Wage distributions in origin societies and occupational choices of immigrant generations in the USA

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  • Crystal Zhan

    (University of South Carolina)

Abstract

This paper studies occupational selection among generations of immigrants in the USA and links their choices to the occupational wage distribution in their country of origin. The empirical results suggest that individuals are more likely to take up an occupation in the USA that was more lucrative in the origin country, conditional on individual demographic characteristics, parental human capital, and ethnic networks. However, the importance of the origin wage declines with the length of time that immigrants spend in the USA and over generations. Information frictions may be an explanation.

Suggested Citation

  • Crystal Zhan, 2022. "Wage distributions in origin societies and occupational choices of immigrant generations in the USA," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(1), pages 89-133, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:35:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s00148-020-00811-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-020-00811-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Immigrants; Occupational choices; Origin wage; Intergenerational transmission; Assimilation; Human capital; Information;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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