Asset ownership of recent immigrants: An examination of nativity and socioeconomic factors

Abstract

This study uses a nationally representative sample of newly legalized immigrants to the United States to investigate factors related to their financial and non-financial asset ownership. Our analysis examines the ownership of financial assets, homes, and businesses in association with human capital, acculturation, and other demographic variables. The results indicate that household income and English fluency are significant predictors of financial, housing and business asset ownership. Other demographic, human capital and acculturation factors have varying effects on asset ownership. Understanding these factors of asset ownership can be useful to practitioners, researchers, and policymakers in developing strategies that can help immigrants integrate into the host country’s society.