Assessing the Socioeconomic Mobility and Integration of U.S. Immigrants and Their Descendants. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duncan, Brian; Trejo, Stephen J.
• Editors: Grusky, David B.; Smeeding, Timothy M.; Snipp, C. Matthew
• Is Part Of: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Volume 657:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 135
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: immigration -- assimilation -- intergenerational mobility -- socioeconomic integration; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- United States -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716214548396
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7162

Abstract

Over the last several decades, two of the most significant developments in the U.S. labor market have been (1) rising inequality and (2) growth in both the size and the diversity of immigration flows. Because a large share of new immigrants arrive with very low levels of schooling, English proficiency, and other skills that have become increasingly important determinants of success in the U.S. labor market, such immigrants and their descendants may be a poor fit for the restructured economy and consequently have a difficult time integrating into American society. In this article we discuss some of the issues that arise when investigating the socioeconomic integration of immigrants and their U.S.-born descendants, and we selectively review research on these topics. In addition, we consider what kinds of supplementary information might be valuable to collect to improve our understanding of immigrant integration and of the intergenerational mobility experienced by immigrant families.