Immigrant Assimilation and Charitable Giving

Abstract

Will immigration impact economic progress and social cohesion in host countries? One indicator that can shed new light on the complex process of immigrant assimilation is charitable giving. Charitable giving and other forms of civic engagement may affect norms of trust, connectedness, and cooperative behavior. We find that immigrant status has a negative, but insignificant impact on the incidence and levels of charitable giving. There is considerable evidence that immigrants adapt rapidly to U.S. charitable institutions over time. Results on private transfers present a striking contrast. Immigrant households are significantly more likely to participate in private transfer networks.