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Earnings Gap, Cohort Effect and Economic Assimilation of Immigrants from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the United States

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  • Lin, Carl

    (Bucknell University)

Abstract

Using 1990, 2000 censuses and a 2010 survey, I examine the economic performance of ethnically Chinese immigrants from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan (CHT) in the U.S. labor market. Since 1990, relative wages of CHT migrants have been escalating in contrast to other immigrants. I show these widening gaps are largely explained by individual's endowments, mostly education. Rising U.S.-earned degrees by CHT migrants can account for this relatively successful economic assimilation. Cohort analysis shows that the economic performance of CHT migrants admitted to the U.S. has been improving, even allowing for the effect of aging.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Carl, 2013. "Earnings Gap, Cohort Effect and Economic Assimilation of Immigrants from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the United States," IZA Discussion Papers 7208, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7208
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    Cited by:

    1. Duleep, Harriet & Dowhan, Dan & Liu, Xingfei, 2023. "A Historical Note on the Assimilation Rates of Foreign-Born Women in the U.S," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1221, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Duleep, Harriet & Liu, Xingfei & Regets, Mark, 2018. "Country of Origin, Earnings Convergence, and Human Capital Investment: A New Method for the Analysis of U.S. Immigrant Economic Assimilation," GLO Discussion Paper Series 247, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Duleep, Harriet & Jaeger, David A. & McHenry, Peter, 2021. "On Immigration and Native Entrepreneurship," GLO Discussion Paper Series 846, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. Duleep, Harriet & Dowhan, Daniel J. & Liu, Xingfei & Regets, Mark & Gesumaria, Robert, 2025. "A Historical Note on the Assimilation Rates of Foreign-Born Men and Women in the U.S," IZA Discussion Papers 17831, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Duleep, Harriet & Liu, Xingfei & Regets, Mark, 2021. "How the Earnings Growth of U.S. Immigrants Was Underestimated," GLO Discussion Paper Series 820, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Miao Chi & Michael Coon, 2020. "Variations in Naturalization Premiums by Country of Origin," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 102-125, January.
    7. Harriet Duleep & Xingfei Liu & Mark Regets, 2022. "How the earnings growth of US immigrants was underestimated," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(2), pages 381-407, April.
    8. Carl Lin & Tony Fang & Mei Hsu, 2024. "Migrants from a Different Shore: Earnings and Economic Assimilation of Immigrants from China in the United States," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 305-349, September.
    9. Duleep, Harriet & Liu, Xingfei & Regets, Mark, 2014. "Country of Origin and Immigrant Earnings, 1960-2000: A Human Capital Investment Perspective," IZA Discussion Papers 8628, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Wehn‐Jyuan Tsai, 2023. "Immigration and inequality: Analysis of Mainland Chinese spouses during the early stages of their time in Taiwan," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 519-551, October.
    11. Duleep, Harriet & Dowhan, Dan & Liu, Xingfei & Regets, Mark & Gesumaria, Robert, 2025. "A Historical Note on the Assimilation Rates of Foreign-Born Men and Women in the U.S," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1596, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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