Coming to America: Does Having a Developed Home Country Matter for Self-Employment in the United States?

Title: Coming to America: Does Having a Developed Home Country Matter for Self-Employment in the United States?
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: May 2012
Published In: American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings
Description:

This research examines the relationship between the economic status of an immigrant's home country and the probability of self-employment in the US. We find that immigrants from developing countries on average have lower self-employment probabilities relative to immigrants from developed countries. Similarly, we find a positive correlation between the current HDI of an immigrant's home country and the probability of self-employment in the US. These result are unexpected given that past research suggests immigrants from countries with high levels of self-employment (developing countries) are more likely to be self-employed in the US. We provide a possible explanation for these results.

Ivan Allen College Contributors:
External Contributors: Ruth Uwaifo-Oyelere
Citation:

Uwaifo-Oyelere, Ruth, and Willie J. Belton. "Coming to America: Does Having a Developed Home Country Matter for Self-Employment in the United States?" American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings 102.3 (2012):  538-542.

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Related Departments:
  • School of Economics