Immigrating into a recession: Evidence from family migrants to the U.S

Toman Barsbai, Andreas Steinmayr and Christoph Winter

No 2240, Kiel Working Papers from Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel)

Abstract: We analyze the impact of economic conditions at arrival on the economic integration of family-sponsored migrants in the U.S. A one pp higher unemployment rate at arrival decreases annual wage income by four percent in the short run and two percent in the longer run. The loss in wage income results primarily from lower hourly wages due to occupational downgrading. Migrant and family networks help mitigating the negative labor market effects. Migrants who arrive during a recession take up occupations with higher concentrations of fellow countrypeople and are more likely to reside with family members, potentially reducing their geographical mobility.

Keywords: Immigrant integration; family reunification; chain migration; migrant networks; labor market; business cycle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E32 F22 J31 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int, nep-lab and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268866/1/KWP2240.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Immigrating into a Recession: Evidence from Family Migrants to the U.S (2022)
Working Paper: Immigrating into a Recession: Evidence from Family Migrants to the U.S (2022)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:2240

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