Full Citation
Title: Beyond Wages: The Effects of Immigration on the Scale and Composition of Output
Citation Type: Working Paper
Publication Year: 2009
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Abstract: We study potential economic benefits of immigration stemming from two factors: first, that immigrantsbring not only their labor supply with them, but also their consumption demands; and second, thatimmigrants may have a comparative advantage in the production of ethnic goods. Using data on theuniverse of business establishments located in California between 1992 and 2002 matched with Censusof Population data, we find some evidence that immigrant inflows boost employment in the retail sector,which is non-traded and a non-intensive user of immigrant labor. We find that immigration is associatedwith fewer stand-alone retail stores, and a greater number of large and in particular big-box retailers evidence that likely contradicts a diversity-enhancing effect of immigration. On the other hand, focusingmore sharply on the restaurant sector, for which we can better identify the types of products consumedby customers, the evidence indicates that immigration is associated with increased ethnic diversityof restaurants.
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Authors: Mazzolari, Francesca; Neumark, David
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Publication Number: 14900
Institution: National Bureau of Economic Research
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Publisher Location: Cambridge, MA
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Migration and Immigration
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