The effect of language training on immigrants’ integration: Does the duration of training matter?

Alex Pont-Grau, Yu-Hsiang Lei, Joel Z.E. Lim and Xing Xia

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2023, vol. 212, issue C, 160-198

Abstract: Language training programs have become a crucial part of immigrant integration policies in many developed countries. We examine whether the intensity of training, in terms of duration, increases the likelihood of integration, particularly labor market integration. We investigate a government-sponsored language training program for immigrants in France. Using both difference-in-differences (DiD) and matching-DiD, we find that, for employed immigrants, longer duration of training significantly increases their chances of having a formal-sector job and a permanent employment contract. We also find suggestive evidence that more effective conveyance of knowledge on labor market institutions, and greater opportunities to expand one’s social network during the program, underlie the benefits of longer training hours. These effects are more pronounced among more educated immigrants, but disappear for refugees.

Keywords: Immigrant; Integration; Language training; Matching difference in differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C81 F22 J15 J61 J68 N34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:212:y:2023:i:c:p:160-198

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.05.027

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