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Title: Ill Marry You If You Get Me a Job: Cross-Nativity Marriages and Immigrant Employment Rates

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2008

Abstract: This paper tests whether marriage to a native affects the probability that an immigrant is employed. We provide a theoretical background which explains how marriage to a native may positively or negatively affect an immigrants employment probability. Utilizing the 2000 U.S. Census, we first look at the effect of cross-nativity marriages on employment using a linear probability model. Then, we estimate a two stage least squares model instrumenting for cross-nativity marriages using local marriage market conditions. Results from a linear probability model controlling for the usual measures of human capital and immigrant assimilation suggest that marriage to a native increases the employment probability of an immigrant byapproximately 5 percentage points. When controlling for the endogeneity of the intermarriage decision, marriage to a native increases the employment probability byabout 11 percentage points. We provide alternative explanations and suggest policy implications.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Theodoropoulos, Nikolaos; Furtado, Delia

Series Title:

Publication Number: 01/08

Institution: Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration

Pages:

Publisher Location: University College London

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Family and Marriage, Migration and Immigration

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop