The Roles of Assimilation and Ethnic Enclave Residence in Immigrant Smoking

41 Pages Posted: 20 Dec 2013 Last revised: 23 Dec 2022

See all articles by Johanna Catherine Maclean

Johanna Catherine Maclean

University of Pennsylvania

Douglas A. Webber

Temple University - Department of Economics

Jody L. Sindelar

Yale University - School of Public Health

Date Written: December 2013

Abstract

In this study we examine the importance of assimilation and ethnic enclave residence for smoking outcomes among United States immigrants. We draw data on over 140,000 immigrants from the Current Population Survey Tobacco Use Supplements between 1995 and 2011. Several patterns emerge from our analysis. First we replicate findings from previous studies that show that longer residence in the U.S is associated with improved employment outcomes while ethnic enclave residence may hinder these outcomes. Second, we find that assimilation similarly extends to coverage of employment-based anti-smoking policies such as worksite smoking bans and smoking cessation programs while enclave residence does not substantially influence these outcomes. Third, we document complex relationships between assimilation, enclave residence, and smoking outcomes. Lastly, we find no strong evidence that immigrants reduce their smoking when faced with more restrictive state anti-smoking policies and find counter-intuitive impacts of tobacco taxes. These findings have important policy implications.

Suggested Citation

Maclean, Johanna Catherine and Webber, Douglas A. and Sindelar, Jody L., The Roles of Assimilation and Ethnic Enclave Residence in Immigrant Smoking (December 2013). NBER Working Paper No. w19753, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2370209

Johanna Catherine Maclean (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania ( email )

Douglas A. Webber

Temple University - Department of Economics ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

Jody L. Sindelar

Yale University - School of Public Health ( email )

PO Box 208034
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States
203-785-5287 (Phone)
203-785-6287 (Fax)

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