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Cross-Generational Differences in Educational Outcomes in the Second Great Wave of Immigration

Author

Listed:
  • David Figlio

    (School of Education and Social Policy Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208)

  • Umut Özek

    (American Institutes for Research Washington, DC 20007)

Abstract

We use matched birth records and longitudinal student records in Florida to investigate whether first-, second-, and third-generation Asian and Hispanic immigrants have different educational success (measured by test scores, disciplinary problems, truancy, high school graduation, and college readiness). We find that, for both Asian and Hispanic students, early-arriving first generation immigrants perform better than do second-generation immigrants, who perform better than third-generation immigrants. The earlier the arrival, the better the students tend to perform. There is therefore a general pattern of successively reduced achievement in the generations following the generation that immigrated to the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • David Figlio & Umut Özek, 2020. "Cross-Generational Differences in Educational Outcomes in the Second Great Wave of Immigration," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 15(4), pages 648-674, Fall.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:edfpol:v:15:y:2020:i:4:p:648-674
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    Cited by:

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    3. Figlio, David & Özek, Umut, 2020. "An extra year to learn English? Early grade retention and the human capital development of English learners," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    4. Marcenaro-Gutierrez, O.D. & Lopez-Agudo, L.A. & Henriques, C.O., 2021. "Are soft skills conditioned by conflicting factors? A multiobjective programming approach to explore the trade-offs," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 18-40.

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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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