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Does Immigration Affect Whether US Natives Major in Science and Engineering?

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  • Pia M. Orrenius
  • Madeline Zavodny

Abstract

Immigration may affect the likelihood that US natives major in science or engineering. Foreign-born students may crowd US natives out of science or engineering, or they may have positive spillovers on US natives that attract or retain them in those fields. This study uses data on college majors from the 2009-11 American Community Surveys to examine the effect of the immigrant share in US natives' age cohort while they are in high school or in college. We find some evidence that immigration adversely affects whether US-born women who graduated from college majored in a science or engineering field.

Suggested Citation

  • Pia M. Orrenius & Madeline Zavodny, 2015. "Does Immigration Affect Whether US Natives Major in Science and Engineering?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 33(S1), pages 79-108.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/676660
    DOI: 10.1086/676660
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