The marital status of recent Mexican immigrants in the United States in 1980 and 1990

Using Public Use Microdata Samples, we analyze the temporal marriage patter ns of recent Mexican immigrants in the United States, and relate these patt erns to socioeconomic and political events, such as U.S. immigration reform , increasing returns to skill, and rising incentives for unattached Mexican s to migrate during the 1980s. Our findings indicate that recent Mexican im migrants (particularly men) were less likely to be married within five year s of migrating in 1990 than their counterparts had been in 1980. An empiric al extension further suggests that the relative endogamy odds among Mexican immigrants who migrated to the United States by 1980 increased during the next decade. Such demographic changes may affect policies involving issues such as education, welfare and retirement.