Immigrant Intentions and Mobility in a Global Economy: The Attitudes and Behavior of Recently Arrived U.S. Immigrants

Objectives. In this article we develop a conceptual model connecting immigrants' objective circumstances to satisfaction with life in the United States, intentions with regard to naturalization and settlement, and concrete behaviors such as remitting and leaving the country. Methods. We analyze...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Social science quarterly 2006-12, Vol.87 (5), p.954-971
Main Authors:	Massey, Douglas S., Akresh, Ilana Redstone
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Attitudes Bachelors degrees Behavior Children Citizenship Demography Earnings Emigration Globalization Human Capital Human migration Immigrants Immigrants and Ethnicity: Then and Now Immigration Income Individual behaviour International migration Labor Market Life satisfaction Market economies Motivation Naturalization Noncitizens Property Property ownership Return migration Satisfaction Social mobility Socioeconomic status Spouses Studies U.S.A United States of America World Economy
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Summary:	Objectives. In this article we develop a conceptual model connecting immigrants' objective circumstances to satisfaction with life in the United States, intentions with regard to naturalization and settlement, and concrete behaviors such as remitting and leaving the country. Methods. We analyze data from the New Immigrant Survey Pilot to estimate structural equations derived from our conceptual model. Results. Those expressing a high degree of U.S. satisfaction are significantly more likely to intend to naturalize and, because of this fact, are also more likely to want to stay in the United States forever. In terms of socioeconomic characteristics, however, those with high earnings and owners of U.S. property are less likely to intend naturalizing; and those with high levels of education are least likely to be satisfied with the United States, but satisfaction is itself unrelated to remitting or emigrating, which are determined by citizenship intentions and objective circumstances. Conclusions. The picture that emerges from this analysis is of a fluid and dynamic global market for human capital in which the bearers of skills, education, and abilities seek to maximize earnings in the short term while retaining little commitment to any particular society or national labor market over the longer term.
ISSN:	0038-4941 1540-6237