The paper explores the determinants and consequences of immigrant investment in host-country education and training, focusing in particular on the role of human capital transferability measured in terms of the degree of recognition of foreign-source educational qualifications. The analyses are performed with the help of a unique dataset on labour market integration of recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Germany, applying propensity score matching techniques. In accordance with the Immigrant Human Capital Investment model, immigrants’ lesser skill transferability fosters their host-country educational attainment. Younger age at migration, better command of the German language, and higher individual conscientiousness also increase the propensity of enrolling in education and training. Investments in host-country education and training clearly pay off in the German labour market in terms of higher-status employment and higher wages. Particularly strong are the gains from host-country training among those immigrants whose formal qualifications from abroad have not been recognized in their receiving society.
Presented by:
Irena Kogan (MZES, University of Mannheim)
Date & time:
November 1, 2015 4:00 pm
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