Full Citation

Title: A Nation of Immigrants: Assimilation and Economic Outcomes in the Age of Mass Migration

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2014

ISBN:

ISSN: 0022-3808

DOI:

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Abstract: During the Age of Mass Migration (1850-1913), the United States maintained an open border, absorbing 30 million European immigrants. Prior cross-sectional work finds that immigrants initially held lower-paid occupations than natives but converged over time. In newly assembled panel data, we show that, in fact, the average immigrant did not face a substantial occupation-based earnings penalty upon first arrival and experienced occupational advancement at the same rate as natives. Cross-sectional patterns are driven by biases from declining arrival cohort skill level and departures of negatively selected return migrants. We show that assimilation patterns vary substantially across sending countries and persist in the second generation.

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Authors: Abramitzky, Ran; Boustan, Leah P.; Eriksson, Katherine

Periodical (Full): Journal of Political Economy

Issue: 3

Volume: 122

Pages: 467-506

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Migration and Immigration, Other

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