It is widely thought that immigrants and their families undergo profound cultural and socioeconomic changes as a consequence of coming into contact with U.S. society, but the way this occurs remains unclear and controversial due in large part to data limitations. In this paper, we provide proof of concept for analyses using linked data that allow us to compare outcomes across more “exact” family generations. Specifically, we are able to follow immigrant parents and their children and grandchildren across seven decades using census and survey data from 1940 to 2014. We describe the data and linkage methodology, evaluate the representativeness of the linked sample, test a method for adjusting for biases that arise from non-representative linkages, and describe the size, diversity, and socioeconomic characteristics of the linked sample. We demonstrate that large sample sizes of linked data will likely permit us to compare several national origin groups across multiple generations.
Foreign-Born and Native-Born Migration in the U.S.: Evidence from...
This paper details migration among native-born and foreign-born populations in the United States using linked IRS, SSA, ACS, and decennial census records.
Individual Changes in Identification with Hispanic Ethnic Origins...
This paper examines the extent to which individuals change between specific categories of Hispanic identification across two decennial censuses.
Labor Market Concentration, Earnings Inequality, and Earnings Mobility
This paper documents trends in local industrial concentration from 1976 through 2015 and estimates the effects of that concentration on earnings outcomes.