Parents and Children Talk: The Family Dynamics of English Language Proficiency

Barry Chiswick, Yew Liang Lee () and Paul Miller
Additional contact information
Yew Liang Lee: University of Western Australia

No 1216, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper extends the analysis of the acquisition of destination language proficiency among immigrants by explicitly incorporating dynamics among family members – mother, father and children. Single equation, bivariate, and four-state (multivariate) probit analyses are employed. Immigrant English language skills are greater the younger the age at migration, the longer the duration of residence, the higher the level of education, and for immigrants not from Asia. Large positive correlations in the unmeasured determinants of proficiency exist between spouses, between siblings, and between parents and children, although the latter relationship is stronger for the mother.

Keywords: family; multinominal probit; immigrants; language (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 J16 J24 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 58 pages
Date: 2004-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dcm and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published - published as 'Parents and Children Talk: English Language Proficiency within Immigrant Families' in: Review of Economics of the Household, 2005, 3 (3), 243-268

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Related works:
Working Paper: Parents and Children Talk: The Family Dynamics of English Language Proficiency (2004)
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