A critical period for language learning is often defined as a sharp decline in learning outcomes with age. This study examines the relevance of the critical period for English-speaking proficiency among immigrants in the USA. It uses microdata from the 2000 US Census, a model of language acquisition and a flexible specification of an estimating…

The determinants of dominant language fluency among immigrants and the labor market impact of this fluency are examined. The model is generally applicable, but the empirical tests are performed for adult foreign-born men in Australia (1981 and 1986 Australian censuses). The findings indicate that fluency responds to incentives, including economic…

Provides a statistical portrait of residents of the United States who speak a language other than English, including the degree of their fluency in English. The analysis is based on the microdata files from the 1990 Census of Population. The data reveal that a continuation of current migration patterns will result in both linguistic concentration…

Reviews the literature and analyzes 1980 census data to study English language fluency and earnings among Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Soviet Jews have a difficult initial adjustment, but, after five years in the United States, they achieve parity with other European immigrants in English and earnings. (SLD)

The determinants and labor market consequences for immigrants of proficiency in speaking the dominant language (English in the United States and English of French in Canada) are explored, with focus on adult men using self-reported data from the 1980 and 1981 censuses of the United States and Canada, respectively. It is shown that the determinants…