Immigrant earnings, relative to what? The importance of earnings function specification and comparison points
探讨收入函数设定和比较点选择如何影响移民相对收入的估计，发现非样本均值比较会低估相对收入，而简单收入设定会高估低学历和高学历移民的相对收入。
Abstract Immigrant relative earnings estimates are sensitive to the choice of comparison point and the specification of earnings. Non‐sample mean comparisons (Borjas, 1985) understate relative earnings. Simple earnings specifications (linear education, quadratic experience) overstate relative earnings for both poorly and well‐educated immigrants. Specifications which ignore omitted variables understate the relative earnings of poorly educated immigrants and overstate those of well‐educated ones. Although measures of assimilation and changes in immigrant quality are insensitive to earnings specification, they indicate strong earnings growth for post‐1964 immigrants, an overall decrease in immigrant quality, and an increase in Mexican immigrant quality.