Does the US Labor Market Reward International Experience?

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2014
Volume: 104
Issue: 5
Pages: 250-54

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

A typical strategy for measuring the returns to international experience—comparing the earnings of returning migrants to comparable non-migrants—has been criticized for not adequately accounting for self-selection. I suggest an alternative, testing whether individuals born beyond US borders, but into US citizenship, earn more in US labor markets relative to counterparts born on US soil. Those born abroad to US citizens did not self-select an international experience. Using the ACS, I find that the US market rewards international experience, especially in occupations that value creativity and innovation. Women, in particular, are handsomely rewarded for international human capital.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:104:y:2014:i:5:p:250-54
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29