EARNINGS DIFFERENCES AMONG THE MEXICAN-ORIGIN POPULATION IN THE UNITED-STATES - NATIVITY AND CITIZENSHIP EXPLANATIONS

We use data from the June 1986 Current Population Survey to investigat e nativity and citizenship differences in earnings within the Mexican- origin population in the United States. There is no evidence of any '' costs'' of nativity or citizenship status. Rather, the existing variat ion appears to be more than explained by the distribution of earnings- related endowments. In fact, there is evidence that immigrants are bet ter rewarded for their lower endowments. A possible explanation is tha t the Mexican-origin population is seen as homogeneous by employers, w ho therefore compensate individuals similarly, regardless of their res pective endowments.