Immigrant socioeconomic mobility in the United States: Mechanisms of inequality and the role of ethnic capital

Abstract

We review recent social science research on the socioeconomic mobility of immigrants to the United States by focusing on the educational, occupational, and income attainments among immigrant adults, the first-generation, and the educational attainment of their children, the New Second-Generation. Existing research has identified significant inequalities in educational attainment between second-generation Asian and Latinx immigrant groups.Researchers have also highlighted the importance of ethnic capital for mobility, but we find that they have largely proceeded with the assumption that co-ethnic ties are easily available as a benefit for immigrants upon resettlement.We propose that future research on immigrant socioeconomic mobility should incorporate conceptual insights from economic and cultural sociology as well as use comparative ethnographic research designs to directly observe how ethnic capital operates to challenge or reinforce patterns of socioeconomic inequality.

Access to Social Capital and Educational Returns for Children of Immigrants: Evidence from Three Swedish Studies

“…The authors argue that this reflects the higher concentration of social capital within the ethnic group. A wealth of research in this tradition has since found ethnic social capital, or ' ethnic capital', to be associated with higher educational aspirations for children of immigrants in the USA -particularly among youth with Asian background (Khachikian & Bandelj 2019;Zhou & Gonzales 2019). However, much of this research has been qualitative or has compared migrants with different legal statuses from the same region of origin.…”

Decoding the Hidden Curriculum: Latino/a First-Generation College Students’ Influence on Younger Siblings’ Educational Trajectory

“…Sociologists find that college educated individuals can return to their immigrant families and communities and become a social resource (Khachikian & Bandelj, 2019;Vallejo, 2012;Vallejo & Lee, 2009). Participants served as drivers of ethnic and social capital to position their younger siblings for upward mobility.…”

Comparing apples with apples? How ethnolinguistic and immigration status differentiates university admissions in Toronto and Sydney

“…Although this can vary across immigrant groups, intergenerational transmission of norms, cultural resources, and social expectations can enhance academic success among minority students. For example, Khachikian and Bandelj (2019) demonstrate that ethnic communities provide exposure to career preparation norms promoting younger members' social mobility. In addition to providing access to intellectual, social, and economic resources, ethnic groups teach values defining members' ideas and expectations.…”