Abstract
Using data from the 2000 Census, this study examines the relationship between household living arrangements and economic resources among Mexican immigrant families with children. I model separately the relationships between family income and household structure and proportion of total household income contributed and household structure. The results show that families that coreside with extended kin and non-kin have higher incomes, all else equal, relative to those that reside in single-family households. In addition, Mexican immigrant families that reside in extendedhousehold living arrangements contribute about three quarters of total household income. While families may gain some economic efficiency through extended household living arrangements, the results are consistent with expectations that Mexican immigrant families expend scarce resources in support of the migration and settlement of extended kin. The Mexican delayed assimilation thesis suggests such support inadvertently diverts resources away from immigrant children and slows intergenerational progress.
Document Type
Research Paper
Publication Date
2010
Discussion Paper Number
DP 2010-10
Repository Citation
Leach, Mark A., "Household Living Arrangements and Economic Resources among Mexican Immigrant Families with Children" (2010). University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series. 47.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ukcpr_papers/47
