The earnings of self-employed Mexican Americans along the U.S.-Mexico border

Chrystell Flota () and Marie T. Mora ()
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Chrystell Flota: Department of Economics and Finance, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539-2999, USA
Marie T. Mora: Department of Economics and International Business, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, USA

The Annals of Regional Science, 2001, vol. 35, issue 3, pages 483-499

Abstract: We utilize data from the 1990 1% Public Use Microdata Sample to analyze the earnings and occupational status of self-employed Mexican Americans in the five major U.S.-Mexico border metropolitan statistical areas (Brownsville, El Paso, Laredo, and McAllen in Texas, and San Diego, California) relative to those in non-border cities. Our findings suggest that self-employed Mexican American men earned significantly less in Texas-Mexico border cities than in other areas on average, while the earnings of self-employed Mexican American women did not significantly vary between border and non-border cities. We also find evidence that these earnings differentials may be related to differences in self-employment selection and occupational choice. As such, "across the board" policies designed to foster self-employment may not have the desired effect of boosting economic prosperity unless consideration is given to the socioeconomic and demographic composition of the region as well as to the specific occupational sector.

JEL-codes: J15 J16 J23 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001 Written 2001-11-16
Note: Received: June 2000/Accepted: December 2000
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