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Language proficiency and homeownership: Evidence from U.S. immigrants

The joint work of Marc-André Luik, Max Steinh ardt, and Simon Voss , " Language proficiency and homeownership: Evidence from U.S. immigrants " is now available in the Journal of Housing Economics. Abstract: In this paper, we deliver the first causal evidence on the relationship between immigrant host-country language proficiency and homeownership. Using an instrumental variable strategy, we find a substantial positive impact of language skills on the propensity to own a home and the quality of housing among immigrants in the United States. While this effect is mediated by household income, our estimates also speak in favor of a direct language effect. Suggestive evidence further indicates that part of this effect may be driven by discrimination. Our results highlight the importance of host-country-specific human capital and, in particular, language proficiency for socio-economic assimilation in housing markets. Link to the paper

Aug 13, 2025 | Economics

Working Paper: Feeling Equal before the Law? The Impact of Access to Citizenship and Legal Status on Perceived Discrimination

The new discussion paper “ Feeling Equal before the Law? The Impact of Access to Citizenship and Legal Status on Perceived Discrimination ” by Adriana Rocío Cardozo Silva (DIW) and Christopher Prömel is now available on the DIW website. Abstract: In this study, we contribute to the literature about the effects of improving access to citizenship on integration outcomes. Hereby, we exploit exogenous variation from two citizenship reforms in Germany to estimate the effects of residency requirements on perceived discrimination, which is strongly linked to individual well-being, sense of belonging, and migration desires and decisions. We find that reducing waiting times to become eligible for citizenship decreases perceptions of discrimination. However, heterogeneity analyses reveal that these effects appear to be mostly limited to men and immigrants from Eastern European countries. In addition to our main analysis, we exploit exogenous variation from EU enlargement to show that citizens from countries that became part of the EU report significantly less discrimination than non-EU immigrants. Link to the working paper

May 16, 2025 | Economics