Variations in Naturalization Premiums by Country of Origin

This study uses the 2013–2017 American Community Survey to explore differences in the returns to obtaining US citizenship for immigrants from the four largest source countries relative to all other immigrants. We find that Chinese, Mexican, and Filipino immigrants face a wage penalty prior to natura...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Eastern economic journal 2020-01, Vol.46 (1), p.102-125
Main Authors: Chi, Miao, Coon, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citizenship
Economic Theory/Quantitative Economics/Mathematical Methods
Economics
Economics and Finance
Immigration
Noncitizens
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Wages & salaries
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Summary:This study uses the 2013–2017 American Community Survey to explore differences in the returns to obtaining US citizenship for immigrants from the four largest source countries relative to all other immigrants. We find that Chinese, Mexican, and Filipino immigrants face a wage penalty prior to naturalization, while Indian immigrants experience higher wages than other immigrants. Naturalization more than offsets the wage penalty for Chinese and Filipino immigrants and partially offsets the wage penalty for Mexican immigrants. However, naturalized Indian immigrants earn less than non-naturalized Indian immigrants. We find only limited evidence of a naturalization premium for immigrants from other countries.
ISSN:0094-5056
1939-4632
DOI:10.1057/s41302-019-00149-0