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Title: Language-Skill Complementarity in Major Immigrant Groups of the 1990s

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2006

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Abstract: While there has been some research into the economic importance of English languageskills, little has been done to study differences between immigrant groups. This paperinvestigates the effects of English ability in Mexican, Chinese, and Soviet immigrants.Data from IPUMS is used to measure returns to language skills and education in each ofthe three groups. The results confirm the hypothesis that various immigrant groups benefitdifferently from English language ability. Mexicans generally have much lower languageeffects than the other two groups. Language-skill complementarity, a hypothesis thatclaims language ability and education interact positively, is supported in the Mexican andChinese, but not the Soviet group. The results of this project are important to the analysisof U.S. immigration policy and evaluation of language training programs. It also providesopportunity for further research into the nature of the differences between the variousimmigrant groups.

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Authors: Kheyfets, Michael

Publisher: Boston University

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Migration and Immigration, Other

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