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Acculturation and the labor market in Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Javier Cano-Urbina

    (The Florida State University)

  • Patrick L. Mason

    (The Florida State University)

Abstract

This paper empirically examines the relationship between the self-identity as Indigenous and earnings inequality in the Mexican labor market. Using Mexican Census data and a large set of wage covariates reveals the existence of an earnings penalty for self-identification as Indigenous. There is an additional and larger penalty for Indigenous persons who are fluent in an Indigenous language, regardless of Spanish language fluency. Further analyses using the Mexican Family Life Survey reveal that these earnings gaps persist after we also control for an individual’s cognitive ability. Ethno-linguistic inequality is particularly strong in smaller cities and among self-employed workers. JEL Classification: J10, J15, J31, J71, O15

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Cano-Urbina & Patrick L. Mason, 2016. "Acculturation and the labor market in Mexico," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-29, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izalpo:v:5:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1186_s40173-016-0077-6
    DOI: 10.1186/s40173-016-0077-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Javier Reyes-Martinez, 2021. "Cultural Participation and Subjective Well-Being in Latin America: Does Ethnic-Racial Ascription Matter?," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business (continues Analele Stiintifice), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 68(si), pages 53-70, November.
    2. Gerard, Francois & Lagos, Lorenzo & Severnini, Edson R. & Card, David, 2018. "Assortative Matching or Exclusionary Hiring? The Impact of Firm Policies on Racial Wage Differences in Brazil," IZA Discussion Papers 11923, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Monroy-Gómez-Franco, Luis, 2023. "Shades of social mobility: Colorism, ethnic origin and intergenerational social mobility," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 247-266.
    4. Eva O. Arceo-Gomez & Pedro J. Torres L., 2021. "Brechas salariales por autoidentificacion indigena y rasgos lingüisticos en Mexico," Sobre México. Revista de Economía, Sobre México. Temas en economía, vol. 1(3), pages 129-161.
    5. Luis Monroy‐Gómez‐Franco & Paloma Villagómez‐Ornelas, 2024. "Stratification economics in the land of persistent inequalities," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(1), pages 157-175, January.
    6. Paloma Villagómez-Ornelas & Luis Monroy-Gómez-Franco, 2021. "Economic Inequality meets Social Stratification: An Application of Stratification Economics to Mexico," Papers 2021_03, Centro de Estudios Espinosa Yglesias.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Developing country; Indigenous peoples; Demographic economics; Wage gap; Discrimination; Minorities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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