Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Human Resources
Publication Date
6-2010
ISSN
0022-166X
Page Number
749
Keywords
immigrants, high-risk jobs, fatality risks, compensation
Disciplines
Immigration Law | Law | Law and Society
Abstract
Using data from the Current Population Survey and the New Immigrant Survey, this paper examines the common perception that immigrants are concentrated in high-risk jobs for which they receive little wage compensation. Compared to native U.S. workers, non-Mexican immigrants are not at higher risk and have substantial values of statistical life. However, Mexican immigrants incur much higher fatality risks than native U.S. workers and do not receive wage compensation for these risks. Mexican immigrants who do not understand English fare especially poorly. The evidence is consistent with Mexican immigrants facing different wage offer curves.
Recommended Citation
W. Kip Viscusi and Joni Hersch,
Immigrant Status and the Value of Statistical Life, 45 Journal of Human Resources. 749
(2010)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty-publications/1572