Paesani versus Paisanos: The Relative Failure of Spanish Immigrants in Buenos Aires during the Age of Mass Migration

Leticia Arroyo Abad, Noel Maurer and Blanca Sánchez-Alonso
Additional contact information
Noel Maurer: George Washington University
Blanca Sánchez-Alonso: Universidad San Pablo-CEU

No 189, Working Papers from European Historical Economics Society (EHES)

Abstract: Millions of immigrants chose Argentina as the land of opportunity during the era of mass migration. Two immigrant groups, Italians and Spaniards, dominated the immigration flows. Despite higher literacy and their linguistic advantages, in Buenos Aires Spaniards fared worse when compared to Italians. By 1895, Italians enjoyed higher wages. What explains their paths in the city of Buenos Aires? We find that the Italian community capitalized upon pre-existing cultural traditions to establish denser and more effective networks to match their compatriots with economic opportunities. The more individualistic Spanish were unable to keep pace, despite their initial cultural, linguistic, and educational advantages.

Keywords: migration; networks; Buenos Aires. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 N36 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2020-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-mig and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Paesani versus paisanos: the relative failure of Spanish immigrants in Buenos Aires during the age of mass migration (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hes:wpaper:0189

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