Intergenerational Transfer of Human Capital among Immigrant Families

Authors

Kelsey Hample, '10, Illinois Wesleyan University

Abstract

An important implication of the increasing number and diversity of immigrants is the exponentially increasing number of immigrant descendants, especially those who have not fully assimilated to American culture. As this number grows, it becomes increasingly important to study the differences in human capital that immigrants offer compared to natives, and how that human capital benefits their children. Once this is understood, policy can be enacted both to increase the efficiency of these benefits and to try to translate these benefits to native children. For instance, if being bilingual greatly increases the earnings of second-generation immigrants, scholarships could be given to bilingual individuals and policy could be enacted to increase secondary language acquisition in schools. This study will analyze the effect of having immigrant parents on the next generation‘s earnings.

Recommended Citation

Hample, '10, Kelsey (2010) "Intergenerational Transfer of Human Capital among Immigrant Families," The Park Place Economist: Vol. 18
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol18/iss1/10