Human Capital Investment: A History of Asian Immigrants and Their Family Ties

The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act replaced a system that chose immigrants based on their national origin with a family-reunification policy. This change ended a 40-year hiatus in Asian immigration and today, over three-quarters of US immigrants originate from Asia and Latin America. This book focuses on the earnings and human capital investment of Asian immigrants to the US after 1965, providing a primer on studying immigrant economic assimilation. It challenges the conventional model by proposing a richer model that incorporates investments in human capital by immigrants and their families and suggests that the decline in immigrants' entry earnings after 1965 is due to investment in human capital, not permanently lower "quality."

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

In 1965, a significant shift occurred in the immigration policy of the United States, marking a departure from the previous system that prioritized immigrants based on their national origin. This transformative policy brought about a 40-year hiatus in Asian immigration, which eventually came to an end. Today, Asia and Latin America account for over three-quarters of all immigrants residing in the United States. Two critical issues that dominate discussions surrounding US immigration policy are the progress and contributions of post-reform immigrants to the US economy.

This book specifically delves into the earnings and human capital investment of Asian immigrants to the United States following the implementation of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. In addition, it serves as a comprehensive primer on the study of immigrant economic assimilation, offering insights into the methodologies employed by economists to measure immigrant earnings growth and the challenges associated with this approach. The book also highlights strategies for utilizing census data more effectively, such as measuring family income and utilizing "panel data" embedded within the census.

From a historical perspective, this book offers valuable insights into the evolution of immigration policies in the United States. Moreover, it remains highly relevant from a policy standpoint, as policymakers continue to grapple with the need for fundamental changes in the US immigration system to align it with the immigration systems of other countries. The conventional model, which attributes the decline in immigrants' entry earnings after 1965 to a permanent reduction in "quality," is challenged by the proposed richer model presented in this book. The model incorporates investments in human capital made by immigrants and their families, suggesting that the decline in earnings can be attributed to the accumulation of skills and knowledge rather than a permanent decrease in the quality of immigrants.

Furthermore, the book expands the scope of analysis by considering the long-term effects of immigration on the economy. It explores the contributions of immigrants to innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation. By examining the experiences of specific immigrant groups, such as the Chinese and Indian communities, the book sheds.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive and timely examination of the earnings and human capital investment of Asian immigrants to the United States after 1965. It challenges the conventional model of immigrant economic assimilation by proposing a richer model that incorporates investments in human capital. By offering insights into the methodologies employed to measure immigrant earnings growth and the challenges associated with this approach, the book facilitates a deeper understanding of the contributions of immigrants to the US economy. Moreover, it highlights strategies for utilizing census data more effectively, enabling policymakers and researchers to make informed decisions about immigration policies and their impact on the American society.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030470852
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020