The Complementarity of Language and Other Human Capital: Immigrant Earnings in Canada

Barry Chiswick and Paul Miller

No 451, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper analyzes the effects of language practice on earnings among adult male immigrants in Canada using the 1991 Census. Earnings are shown to increase with schooling, pre-immigration experience and duration in Canada, as well as with proficiency in the official languages (English and French). Using selectivity correction techniques, it is shown that there is complementarity between language skills and both schooling and pre-immigration experience. That is, greater proficiency in the official languages enhances the effects on earnings of schooling and pre-immigration labor market experience. Language proficiency and post-migration experience appear to be substitutes, that is, those with greater proficiency have a smaller effect of time in Canada on earnings.

Keywords: language skills; human capital; schooling; immigrants; earnings; Canada (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 J24 J31 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2002-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Published - published in: Economics of Education Review, 2003, 22 (5), 469-480

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Related works:
Journal Article: The complementarity of language and other human capital: immigrant earnings in Canada (2003)
Working Paper: The Complementarity of Language and Other Human Capital: Immigrant Earnings in Canada (2002)
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