How much did immigrant "quality" decline in late nineteenth century America?

Timothy Hatton

Journal of Population Economics, 2000, vol. 13, issue 3, 509-525

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: United; States; immigration; history (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 J31 J61 N11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000-09-11
Note: Received: 1 September 1997/Accepted: 6 June 1998
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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