A key motivation for immigration is greater opportunity for one’s
children. Yet research on the returns to migration usually focuses on
the wage gains of the foreign born only. This paper examines
intergenerational returns to migration by comparing the educational
performance of the children of immigrants to the children in their
parents’ home countries. I utilize the 2003 and 2006 Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA) data which includes
internationally standardized test scores for Italian, Polish, Turkish,
former Yugoslavian, and former Soviet origin youth attending school in
Germany, as well as nonmigrant youth attending school in the origin
countries. Controlling for demographic characteristics and family
background, I find that the children of immigrants in Germany perform
better than non-migrants in every origin country with the exception of
Italy. Assessments of selection bias suggest that positive selection may
account for some, but not all, of intergenerational returns to migration.
Presented by:
Renee Luthra (ISER)
Date & time:
October 13, 2010 12:00 pm - October 13, 2010 1:00 pm
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