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Coming Out of the Shadows: Learning About Legal Status and Wages from the Legalized Population

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Listed:
  • Kossoudji, S.A.
  • Cobb-Clark, D.A.

Abstract

In 1986, Congress attempted to reduce the incentives for unauthorized migration by eliminating U.S. employment opportunities for unauthorized workers. To recognize the commitment that many unauthorized workers had already made to the U.S. labor market, amnesty was granted to approximately 1.7 million long-term unauthorized workers under the General Legalization Program. It was believed that legalization would bring the workers "out of the shadows" and improve their labor market oppoortunities. Estimation of wages using panel data for a sample of legalized men and a comparison sample of legal workers provides evidence that this policy shift has successfully achieved this aim.

Suggested Citation

  • Kossoudji, S.A. & Cobb-Clark, D.A., 1996. "Coming Out of the Shadows: Learning About Legal Status and Wages from the Legalized Population," CEPR Discussion Papers 347, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:auu:dpaper:347
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WAGES; MIGRATION; EMPLOYMENT; LABOUR MARKET;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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