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Title: Language and Earnings of Latinos in Florida: The Effect of Language Enclaves
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2008
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Abstract: Language ability has assumed priority in current studies of the economic success ofimmigrants and minority language speakers. Past studies have shown that language ability, a keyhuman and cultural capital trait, tends to be positively associated with earnings.Building on this past research, the goal of this study is to examine how the effect ofEnglish language proficiency on earnings of Hispanic men in Florida varies by labor marketcontext. Specifically, it aims to compare the difference in the effect of English languageproficiency on earnings in areas densely populated by Spanish speakers to the effect of languageon earnings in areas dominated by English speakers. I predict that English language proficiencywill have a greater impact on earnings in areas where Spanish is not widely spoken. In areaswhere there are large enclaves of Spanish-speakers, English will likely be a less importantdeterminant of earnings. The effect of bilingualism on earnings is also analyzed in this manner.To test my hypotheses, my study consists of two parts: the first based on statisticalanalysis of US census data and the second based on qualitative interviews. Findings show thatEnglish language ability is indeed an important determinant of earnings both in areas with a highproportion of Spanish-speakers and in areas with a low proportion of Spanish-speakers.However, results from the statistical analysis show that English language ability has a greater1 1impact on earnings in areas with a high proportion of Spanish-speakers. While English languageproficiency yields greater earnings in these areas, Spanish language proficiency also has apositive effect on earnings. Fully bilingual Hispanics earn more than their English onlycounterparts in these areas.
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Authors: Dondero, Molly
Institution: University of Florida
Department: Latin American Studies
Advisor: Charles Wood
Degree: MA
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Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Migration and Immigration
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