Listening to what the world says: Bilingualism and earnings in the United States

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Saiz, A; Zoido, E
• 署名单位: University of Pennsylvania
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/0034653054638256
• 发表日期: 2005-08
• 页码: 523-538
• 关键词: language ability; skills; acquisition; curriculum

摘要

Is there a shortage of critical foreign language skills in the United States? Recent concerns about national security and economic globalization suggest increased demand and wage premia for foreign language speakers. The use of English as the international language, however, suggests a decrease in demand for foreign language skills in the United States. To address this question, we study a representative sample of U. S. college graduates. Ordinary least squares regressions with controls for cognitive ability, nonparametric methods based on the propensity score, and panel data methods suggest a 2% - 3% wage premium for college graduates who can speak a second language.