Assimilation of marriage migrants and the role of language: evidence from South Korea

We study the economic assimilation of marriage migrants in South Korea. Females migrating from poorer countries to marry men in richer ones is an important phenomenon. Analyzing data from over 70,000 such marriages in Korea, we document that marriage migrants tend to have low earnings and employment rates upon arrival. However, their economic outcomes improve quickly and, after 15 years, they tend to have higher employment rates and income nearly equal to native-born Korean wives. Despite their successful integration into the Korean labor market, marriage migrants remain less likely than native-born Korean wives to report that they make daily expenditure decisions within their family. Leveraging unique ethnic variation among migrants who vary in their Korean language skills, we find that language skills facilitate a larger role for migrant wives in household decision-making. This study sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of assimilation, emphasizing that economic achievements may not necessarily translate into equitable decision-making power within the household for migrant women.