Full Citation

Title: Age-of-Arrival Effects on the Education of Immigrant Children: A Sibling Study

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2018

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.1007/s10834-018-9569-4

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: We analysed the effects of late entry on the human capital of immigrant children, and investigated the channels via which age-at-migration affects the native-immigrant education gap. Ordinary-least-squares estimates could have been biased if parents factored the age of children into their migration decision. Using a sample of siblings from the 2000 US Census, we employed a family fixed-effects estimation strategy and found a negative and convex relationship between human capital and age-of-arrival. Teenage entrants' outcomes were worst affected compared to younger entrants. Language was found to be an important mediating factor via which age-of-arrival influenced education. The critical age for English proficiency was 8-10. Age-of-arrival affected education not only through language but also via heterogeneous origin country conditions. The additional privileges of birth-right citizenship, if any, were disentangled from the benefits of zero age-of-arrival for natives. Citizenship by birth provided few advantages, except for college enrollment. Results were robust to sample selection changes.

Url: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10834-018-9569-4

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Basu, Sukanya

Periodical (Full): Journal of Family and Economic Issues

Issue: 3

Volume: 39

Pages: 474-493

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Migration and Immigration

Countries: United States