<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Using United States Census data between 1970 and 2017, we analyze the economic assimilation of subsequent arrival cohorts of Mexicans and Central Americans by comparing their earnings and employment probability to those of natives with similar age and education. We find that, on average, these immigrants started with an earnings gap of 40–45% and eliminated half of it within 20 years of arrival. Recent cohorts that arrived after 1995 performed better than earlier cohorts in that they had smaller initial earnings gaps and faster convergence. Additionally, the most recent cohorts entered the United States without an employment rate disadvantage, and they surpassed natives within 10 years. We also find that Mexicans and Central Americans working in the construction sector and those living in nonenclave and urban areas had faster earnings convergence than the others.</p>
</abstract>

Using United States Census data between 1970 and 2017, we analyze the economic assimilation of subsequent arrival cohorts of Mexicans and Central Americans by comparing their earnings and employment probability to those of natives with similar age and education. We find that, on average, these immigrants started with an earnings gap of 40–45% and eliminated half of it within 20 years of arrival. Recent cohorts that arrived after 1995 performed better than earlier cohorts in that they had smaller initial earnings gaps and faster convergence. Additionally, the most recent cohorts entered the United States without an employment rate disadvantage, and they surpassed natives within 10 years. We also find that Mexicans and Central Americans working in the construction sector and those living in nonenclave and urban areas had faster earnings convergence than the others.

Economic Assimilation of Mexicans and Central Americans in the United States<xref ref-type="fn" rid="j_izajodm-2022-0003_fn_001"><sup>1</sup></xref>

IZA Journal of Development and Migration

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Economic Assimilation of Mexicans and Central Americans in the United States

Using United States Census data between 1970 and 2017, we analyze the economic assimilation of subsequent arrival cohorts of Mexicans and Central Americans by...

Economic Assimilation of Mexicans and Central Americans in the United States¹

Published Online: Apr 08, 2022

Page range: -

Accepted: Oct 03, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/izajodm-2022-0003

Keywords
economic assimilation, earnings, employment, Mexicans and Central Americans, cohort analysis

© 2021 Giovanni Peri et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Economic Assimilation of Mexicans and Central Americans in the United States1

Published Online: Apr 08, 2022

Page range: -

Accepted: Oct 03, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/izajodm-2022-0003

Keywordseconomic assimilation, earnings, employment, Mexicans and Central Americans, cohort analysis

© 2021 Giovanni Peri et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Economic Assimilation of Mexicans and Central Americans in the United States¹

Keywords
economic assimilation, earnings, employment, Mexicans and Central Americans, cohort analysis