Full Citation

Title: Labor Market Outcomes of Mexican Immigrants in Mexican Border States

Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis

Publication Year: 2017

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Abstract: This thesis compares labor market outcomes of foreign born Mexican-American immigrants and native born United States citizens of all races within states that border Mexico and states which do not border Mexico. It also examines the effect of Hispanic heritage for U.S.-born “second generation” immigrants, and racial composition upon the earning potential of U.S. workers. Following theory about media agenda settings from sociology and communications literature, this study seeks to understand the effect of geography (which is correlated with exposure to immigrant populations, exposure to immigration related media, etc.) within the United States upon discriminatory hiring practices. Using IPUMS USA data from 1920 – 2015, I compare results across four broad time periods which correspond to different immigration and hiring policies in the United States: the pre-WWII era, the Bracero Program era, the Post-Bracero Program era, and the current era which is associated with legislative attempts to curb Mexican migrant workers. Results indicate that there is indeed evidence for labor market discrimination, reflected in disparities in income and unemployment outcomes. The gap in wages and employment opportunities worsens over time, as foreign born Mexican-American immigrants are increasingly disadvantaged. This effect is larger in states that share a border with Mexico than in states which do not.

Url: https://scholarship.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/handle/10066/19255

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Authors: Simon, Marina, P

Institution: Haverford College

Department: Economics

Advisor: Saleha Jilani

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Publisher Location: Haverford, PA

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Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Migration and Immigration, Race and Ethnicity

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