Niankara, I. (2020), The role of english language proficiency on immigrants health and economic integration in the US, International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 20(3), 255-287. DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2020.110445
Niankara, I. (2020), The role of english language proficiency on immigrants health and economic integration in the US, International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 20(3), 255-287. DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2020.110445
Niankara, I. (2020), The role of english language proficiency on immigrants health and economic integration in the US, International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 20(3), 255-287. DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2020.110445
Niankara, I. (2020), The role of english language proficiency on immigrants health and economic integration in the US, International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 20(3), 255-287. DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2020.110445
Abstract
This paper investigates the role of English language proficiency (ELP) as a measure of cultural integration on U.S. immigrant families’ economic integration, as measured by annual earnings, and health care market integration, as captured by annual medical care spending. Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation of a mixed bivariate ordered probit (MBOP) model of annual earnings and medical care spending is conducted using a nationally representative pooled cross-sectional sample data from the U.S. National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS). The results reveal that limited English proficiency is associated with lower marginal earnings propensities (-$44.83, -$50.66, and -$56.97), and higher marginal medical care spending propensities ($8.09, $6.09, and $4.32) for each of the three decreasing levels of ELP. Furthermore, we find a small yet statistically significant positive 7.2% correlation between immigrant families’ annual earnings and medical care spending propensities. Therefore investing to raise immigrants’ families ELP in the U.S. would not only contribute to more effective socio-economic integration, but also strengthen the U.S. workforce and economy for decades to come.
English proficiency, Earnings, Immigrants, MCMC, Medical Care Spending
Subject
Business, Economics and Management, Economics
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Commenter: Samir Maliki
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Very original and interesting topics!!!
Wish you a nice Holidays!!!!
Samir;