Browsing by Author "Craig, Sandy"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Hispanics in the Chicago economy : an analysis of the earnings determination of Chicano and Puerto Rican males
    (2006-11-30T19:07:07Z) Craig, Sandy
    The rapid growth of the Hispanic population in recent years raises many questions about their disadvantaged economic standing in the United States and the differences in economic standing between Hispanic subgroups. In this thesis, I analyze the economic standing of Chicano and Puerto Rican males in Chicago, as defined through earnings. To this end, I examine the historical experiences of both groups in the city before turning to an analysis of their relative economic standing. Using aggregated census tract-level data from 1980 to 2000, the results indicate that earnings determinants are different for the two groups. Consistent with prior economic theory, schooling is important in determining earnings for both Chicano and Puerto Rican males, although the rate of return of schooling is greater for Puerto Ricans than it is for Chicanos. The different effects of English proficiency on the earnings of Chicano and Puerto Ricans are particularly puzzling. I argue that differences in the determination of earnings account for some, but not all, of the earnings disparity between the two groups. In combination with an examination of the historical conditions of each group, however, the economic analysis of earnings determination presented in this thesis is important for understanding the earnings disparity between Chicano and Puerto Rican males in Chicago and their relative economic standing in the city.