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The Effect of Naturalization on Wage Growth: A Panel Study of Young Male Immigrants

Author

Listed:
  • Bernt Bratsberg

    (Kansas State University and Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research, Norway)

  • James F. Ragan

    (Kansas State University)

  • Zafar M. Nasir

    (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics)

Abstract

For young male immigrants, naturalization facilitates assimilation into the U.S. labor market. Following naturalization, immigrants gain access to public-sector, white-collar, and union jobs, and wage growth acceleratesconsistent with removal of employment barriers. The faster wage growth of immigrants who naturalize might alternatively result from greater human capital investment prior to naturalization, stemming from a long-term commitment to U.S. labor markets, but there is no evidence that wage growth accelerates or the distribution of jobs improves until citizenship is attained. Finally, the gains from naturalization are greater for immigrants from less-developed countries and persist when we control for unobserved productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernt Bratsberg & James F. Ragan & Zafar M. Nasir, 2002. "The Effect of Naturalization on Wage Growth: A Panel Study of Young Male Immigrants," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 20(3), pages 568-597, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:20:y:2002:i:3:p:568-597
    DOI: 10.1086/339616
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    References listed on IDEAS

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