The Impact of Social Capital on The Earnings of Puerto Rican Migrants

Abstract

There is a paucity of studies examining the relationship between Puerto Ricans’ social capital and their earnings. I utilized data from the Latin American Migration Project (collected in 1998 and 1999) to test five hypotheses derived from social capital theory to predict the hourly earnings of Puerto Rican migrants. My study illustrates that Puerto Rican migrants’ social capital is positively related with their earnings. Interestingly, the social capital effects only pertain to Puerto Rican females. Additionally, Puerto Rican migrants do not benefit from ethnic solidarity in terms of increased wages. My analyses point toward social capital's ability to provide important labor market information to Puerto Rican females, which they appear to use to acquire jobs paying higher wages. Social capital theory has been applied to many different phenomenon including banking, education, immigration, labor markets, and nation building (Massey et al. 1987; Coleman 1988; Uzzi 1999; Fernandez, Castilla, and Moore 2000; Putnam 2000). Within the labor market, social capital has been found to be related with earnings, employment, formal employment, and job tenure (Mier and Giloth 1986; Donato, Durand, and Massey 1992; Aguilera 1999; 2003; Philips and Massey 1999; Aguilera and Massey 2003). Within the immigration field, social capital has been linked with the migration process, labor market outcomes, and attainment of citizenship (Massey et al. 1987; Baker 2000; Aguilera and Massey 2003; Fussell 2004). Unfortunately, Puerto Ricans have been unstudied within this massive literature about social capital. Additionally, gender differences in returns to social capital are only just beginning to be recognized and there is little agreement as to whether males or females benefit most from social capital. I studied the relationship between social capital and labor market outcomes of Puerto Rican migrants, paying special attention to differences in gender.

The Effect of Ethnic Clustering on Migrant Integration in Germany

“…This could be different ethnic groups (Hou and Picot, 2003), different skill level groups (Sousa, 2013;Warman, 2007) or gender differences (Aguilera, 2005;Gilbertson, 1995;Zhou and Logan, 1989). Another reason could be differences in the enclave quality, e.g.…”

“…First, it seems reasonable to assume that clustering effects differ for men and women (Aguilera, 2005;Gilbertson, 1995;Zhou and Logan, 1989).…”

Social Capital Accumulation among Puerto Rican Mothers in Urban Neighborhoods

“…In addition, other demographic and individual characteristics can shape SKA. Social capital was positively correlated with employment and financial capital, which provided important labor market information to Puerto Rican women that they used to acquire higher-paying jobs [29]. However, compared to Mexican men, employed Mexican women were less likely to accumulate social capital [3].…”

stratégies de développement du capital social des personnes immigrantes du Lac-Saint-Jean :

“…L'immigration au Lac Saint-Jean n'a pris de l'ampleur que très récemment et jusqu'à présent, les études sur l'immigration dans la région 02 n'ont porté réellement que sur le secteur de Saguenay (Boisclair, 1993;Alonso, 1998;Bustos-Foglia, 2008 2 Aguilera, 2005; Emmerik, 2005;Moore, 1990;Lin;Warr;Burt, 1998 3 Aguilera, 2005Anucha et al, 2006;Beaudoin 2010; Boyd, 1999;Bustos-Foglia, 2008;Cardu & Sanschagrin, 2002;Catarino & Morokvasic, 2005;Gonzalez-Gonzalez & Zarco, 2008; Kofman & Raghuran, 2006;Maillé, 2002; Me Kinnish, 2008;Nedelcu, 2005;Osmani, 2002;Pedraza, 1991; CSF, 2005a;Vallée, 2002;Vatz-Laaroussi, 1999 Notre intérêt a porté sur les stratégies de développement du capital social chez les …”

“…« [...] Whatever is to be diffused can reach a larger number of people, and traverse greater social distance when passed through weak ties rather than strong » (Granovetter, 1973(Granovetter, : 1366 (Warr, 2006;Woolcock & Szreter, 2004). L'expression couramment employée pour traduire la fonction du capital social bonding est qu'il permet de faire face ou de faire avec (getting by) (Ponthieux, 2006;Warr, 2006;Woolcock & Szreter, 2004;Widmaln, 2005 (Widmaln, 2005;Anucha et al, 2006;Warr, 2006;Aguilera, 2005, Tillie, 2004, Jean, 2007. L'un et Vautre, 1966) qui ont fait germer l'idée que l'identité de sexe avait des fondements culturel et social (CSF, 2010 Depuis, les chercheures féministes ont développé divers modèles théoriques pour expliquer les distinctions fondées sur le sexe.…”