The Effect of Literacy on Immigrant Earnings

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Human Resources
Year: 2006
Volume: 41
Issue: 2

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We examine the impact of literacy on immigrant earnings and the sources of lower returns to education and experience among immigrants. We find that the native-born literacy distribution dominates that for immigrants. However, the two groups obtain similar returns to literacy skills, contrary to discrimination-based explanations for immigrant—native-born earnings differentials. Among the university-educated, literacy differences account for about two-thirds of the earnings gap. However, low returns to foreign experience have a larger impact on this differential. Among the less educated, literacy differences and differences in the returns to experience have similar effects on the earnings differential.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:uwp:jhriss:v:41:y:2006:i:2:p380-410
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25