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α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
Early twentieth century observers argued that recent American immigrants were inferior, and in particular less skilled, than the old. I estimate wage equations for 1909 allowing for different effects by nationality and for different characteristics on arrival. I then apply the estimated wage differentials to the immigrant composition to measure the effect of changing composition on immigrant earnings. Finally I ask how immigrant earning power changed relative to that of native Americans. I conclude that immigrant "quality" in terms of earnings did decline due to shifting composition but these effects are very small compared with those reported in studies of the post-second World War period.