Language proficiency and homeownership: Evidence from U.S. immigrants

Arbeitspapier

In this paper we deliver first causal evidence on the relationship between immigrant host country language proficiency and homeownership. Using an instrumental variable strategy, we find a substantial positive impact of language skills on the propensity to own a home and the quality of housing. While this effect is mediated by education and household income, our estimates also speak in favor of a direct effect. Our results highlight the importance of host-country-specific human capital and, in particular, language proficiency for socio-economic assimilation.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Discussion Paper ; No. 2023/3

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers ; Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Housing Demand ; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
• Subject: language ; immigrants ; assimilation ; homeownership

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Luik, Marc-André ; Steinhardt, Max Friedrich ; Voss, Simon
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Freie Universität Berlin, School of Business & Economics
• (where): Berlin
• (when): 2023

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.17169/refubium-38193
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/270610
• URN: urn:nbn:de:kobv:188-refubium-38475-8
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET