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Colorism and Immigrant Earnings in the United States, 2015–2024

Author

Listed:
  • Hersch, Joni

    (Vanderbilt University)

Abstract

Using data from the Current Populations Survey 2015-2024 matched to skin color data in the New Immigrant Survey, this article shows that immigrants from countries with darker skin color face a substantial earnings penalty. The penalty is similar to that found using 2003 data on individual immigrants. Controls for extensive labor market characteristics and race and ethnicity does not eliminate the negative effect of darker skin tone on wages. Color discrimination lawsuits in light of the addition of a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) reporting category for US government surveys may become more viable.

Suggested Citation

  • Hersch, Joni, 2024. "Colorism and Immigrant Earnings in the United States, 2015–2024," IZA Discussion Papers 17397, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17397
    as

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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp17397.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joni Hersch & Jennifer Bennett Shinall, 2018. "Imputation Match Bias in Immigrant Wage Convergence," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(4), pages 1475-1485, August.
    2. JooHee Han, 2020. "Does Skin Tone Matter? Immigrant Mobility in the U.S. Labor Market," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(2), pages 705-726, April.
    3. Lisa Kiang & David T. Takeuchi, 2009. "Phenotypic Bias and Ethnic Identity in Filipino Americans," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 90(2), pages 428-445, June.
    4. Mark A. Loewenstein & David S. Piccone Jr. & Anne E. Polivka, 2024. "Measuring Potential Effects of Introducing the 2024 Race and Ethnicity Standards into the Current Population Survey," NBER Chapters, in: Race, Ethnicity, and Economic Statistics for the 21st Century, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Mason, Patrick L., 2004. "Annual income, hourly wages, and identity Among Mexican Americans and other Latinos," MPRA Paper 11326, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Mark Loewenstein & David Piccone & Anne Polivka, 2024. "Measuring Potential Effects of Introducing the 2024 Race and Ethnicity Standards into the Current Population Survey," NBER Working Papers 32812, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Joni Hersch, 2008. "Profiling the New Immigrant Worker: The Effects of Skin Color and Height," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 345-386, April.
    8. Daniel Kreisman & Marcos A. Rangel, 2015. "On the Blurring of the Color Line: Wages and Employment for Black Males of Different Skin Tones," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 97(1), pages 1-13, March.
    9. Rodolfo Espino & Michael M. Franz, 2002. "Latino Phenotypic Discrimination Revisited: The Impact of Skin Color on Occupational Status," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 83(2), pages 612-623, June.
    10. Arthur H. Goldsmith & Darrick Hamilton & William Darity, Jr, 2007. "From Dark to Light: Skin Color and Wages Among African-Americans," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 42(4).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    colorism; race; skin tone discrimination; immigrant; earnings; Current Population Survey; New Immigrant Survey; MENA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • J78 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Public Policy (including comparable worth)
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law

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