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Profiling the New Immigrant Worker: The Effects of Skin Color and Height

Joni Hersch
Vanderbilt University Law School; Vanderbilt University - Owen Graduate School of Management; Vanderbilt University - College of Arts and Science - Department of Economics

April 15, 2008

Journal of Labor Economics, Forthcoming
Vanderbilt Law and Economics Research Paper No. 07-02

Abstract:
Using data from the New Immigrant Survey 2003, this paper shows that skin color and height affect wages among new lawful immigrants to the U.S. controlling for education, English language proficiency, occupation in source country, family background, ethnicity, race, and country of birth. Immigrants with the lightest skin color earn on average 17 percent more than comparable immigrants with the darkest skin color. Taller immigrants have higher wages, but weight does not affect wages. Controls for extensive current labor market characteristics that may be influenced by discrimination do not eliminate the negative effect of darker skin color on wages.

Keywords: discrimination, immigrants, skin color

JEL Classifications: J10, J71, J31, K31

Working Paper Series

Date posted: August 29, 2006 ; Last revised: April 20, 2008

Suggested Citation

Hersch, Joni, Profiling the New Immigrant Worker: The Effects of Skin Color and Height (April 15, 2008). Journal of Labor Economics, Forthcoming; Vanderbilt Law and Economics Research Paper No. 07-02. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=927038

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