Full Citation
Title: The Role of Human Capital in Language Acquisition Among Immigrants in U.S. Metropolitan Areas
Citation Type: Working Paper
Publication Year: 2009
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Abstract: Segregation by race, ethnicity and income is a persistent feature of U.S. cities and communities,and ethnic enclaves have formed ever since immigration became more diverse. For low-skilledimmigrants in particular, settling in an ethnic enclave may offer important opportunities andfacilitate coping with the new environment. However, immigrant enclaves may also fosteroccupational segregation and retard assimilation, with the willingness to invest in languageacquisition playing a key role. This paper expands on earlier work focusing on the linkagebetween spatial segregation and language acquisition. Using data from the 2000 U.S. Census thestudy stratifies immigrants by their location in one of four metropolitan areas by educationalattainment and national origin in order to determine the effect of these individual characteristicson English proficiency. The probability of speaking English was found to vary across the fourlocales and educational attainment. Language acquisition was highest in the metropolitan areawhere the immigrant share is smallest, and is increasing in educational attainment.
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Authors: Beckhusen, Julia; Florax, Raymond J.G.M.; de Graaff, Thomas; Waldorf, Brigitte S.
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Publication Number: 09-04
Institution: Department of Agricultural Economics Purdue University
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Publisher Location: West Lafayette, IN
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Housing and Segregation, Migration and Immigration, Race and Ethnicity
Countries: United States