Full Citation
Title: Differences in Rates of Return to Education: Immigration and Native Men in the 1980's
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2005
ISBN:
ISSN:
DOI:
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID:
Abstract: ...It is the main hypothesis that after controlling for other forms of human capital and additional worker characteristics, native workers experienced greater rates of return to the attainment of 12 years, 14 years (some college) and 16 years (college degree) of education respectively in 1980 and in 1990. Additionally, it is hypothesized that the rates of return to all three levels of education grew between 1980 and 1990 for both groups, and that they grew the most for 16 years (college degree) of education. This second hypothesis is intended to show growth rates in immigrant and native returns to education that might provide incight into the determinants of the rate-of-return differences posited in the first hypothesis. More specifically, some economists (Berman et al, 1994) have cited observed growth in the relative demand for skilled labor in the 1980s as a likely cause of the larger increase in the number of jobs requiring high skills relative to those requiring low skills. It is possible that this higher relative demand for skilled labor is benefiting both groups. Applying human capital theory to immigrant assimilation, section II reviews the literature on declining relative immigrant skill levels and declining relative immigrant wages between 1970 and 1990. Also, section II observes changes in the rates of return to different levels of education experienced by all male workers and the changing labor market conditions that occurred over the same period. Section III explains the data and empirical model used to estimate the rates of return to education experienced by immigrants and natives in 1980 and 1990. Since the real argument regarding these differences in rates of return lies in their interpretation, section IV delivers the results and then attempts to make sense of them with traditional explanations. Section V gives concluding remarks, policy implications and suggestions for further research...
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Dodds, Grant
Periodical (Full): The Park Place Economist
Issue:
Volume: 13
Pages: 67-78
Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS CPS
Topics:
Countries: