Combining unique individual level H-1B data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and data from the 2009 American Community Survey, we analyze earnings differences between H-1B visa holders and US born workers in STEM occupations. The data indicate that H-1Bs are younger and...

Drivers of entrepreneurial entry are investigated in this study by examining how entry into small-business ownership is shaped by industry-specific constraints. The human- and financial-capital endowments of potential entrepreneurs entering firms in various industries are shown to differ...

We analyze the impact of the 2007 Legal Arizona Workers Act (LAWA) on employment outcomes of low-skilled Arizona workers, with a focus on the states' unauthorized population. The intent of LAWA was to limit unauthorized workers' economic opportunities as a way to deter further illegal...

Drivers of entrepreneurial entry are investigated in this study by examining how entry intosmall-business ownership is shaped by industry-specific constraints. The human- andfinancial-capital endowments of potential entrepreneurs entering firms in various industriesare shown to differ...

We evaluate whether California's state proposition 47 impacted state violent and property crime rates. Passed by the voters in November 2014, the proposition redefined many less serious property and drug offenses that in the past could be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor to straight...

Low-skilled workers do not fare well in today’s skill intensive economy and their opportunitiescontinue to diminish. Given that individuals in this challenging skill segment of the workforceare more likely to have poor experiences in the labor market, and hence incur greater publicexpenses, it...

The proportion of students who do not graduate from high school is dramatically higheramong the two largest minority groups, Hispanics and African-Americans, compared to non-Hispanic whites...

This study examines causes of black/white gaps in business ownership and self-employmentrates by analyzing small-business entry and exit patterns. We proceed by recognizingheterogeneity in business ownership across different industry groups: a classification of firmsby human- and...

This paper analyzes differences in welfare transitions between natives and immigrants in Sweden using a large representative panel data set, LINDA, for the years 1991 to 2001. The data contains administrative information on welfare use, country of birth, and time of arrival in Sweden among other...