DP3527 Enclaves, Language and the Location Choice of Migrants

Author(s):	Thomas Bauer, Gil S Epstein, Ira Gang
Publication Date:	September 2002
Keyword(s):	enclave, ethnic concentration, ethnic goods, immigrants, language skills, networks
JEL(s):	F22, J15, J61
Programme Areas:	Labour Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=3527

Empirical studies in the migration literature have shown that migration enclaves (networks) negatively affect the language proficiency of migrants. These studies, however, ignore the choice of location as a function of language skills. Using data on Mexican migration to the US, we show that migrants choose smaller networks as their English language proficiency improves.