Full Citation

Title: High-Skilled Immigration and Native Task Specialization in U.S. Cities

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2019

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2019.06.004

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of high-skilled immigration on the occupational structure of native-born workers in U.S. cities. The estimates from an instrumental variable approach indicate that increases in foreign talent in math-intensive tasks, where they hold a comparative advantage over native-born workers, increase the specialization of college-educated natives in social-intensive tasks. Evidence suggests that this labor reallocation occurs within occupations at the top of the task distribution. The productivity gains from task specialization accrue to both college and non-college natives, where they experience significant positive wage gains. The findings provide suggestive evidence that cities not only benefit from the inflow of high-skilled immigrants through their direct contribution to the local economy (e.g., innovation) but also from the increased task specialization of its workforce.

Url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2019.06.004

User Submitted?: Yes

Authors: Lin, Gary C

Periodical (Full): Regional Science and Urban Economics

Issue:

Volume: 77

Pages: 289-305

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Migration and Immigration

Countries: