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Intergenerational fertility among Hispanic women: new evidence of immigrant assimilation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Parrado, EA; Morgan, SP
Published in: Demography
August 2008

In recent decades, rapid growth of the U.S. Hispanic population has raised concerns about immigrant adaptation, including fertility. Empirical research suggests that Hispanics, especially Mexicans, might not be following the historical European pattern of rapid intergenerational fertility decline (and convergence toward native levels). If confirmed, continued high Hispanic fertility could indicate a broader lack of assimilation into mainstream American society. In this paper, we reexamine the issue of Hispanic and Mexican fertility using an approach that combines biological and immigrant generations to more closely approximate a comparison of immigrant women with those of their daughters' and granddaughters' generation. Contrary to cross-sectional results, our new analyses show that Hispanic and Mexican fertility is converging with that of whites, and that it is similarly responsive to period conditions and to women's level of education. In addition, we employ a mathematical simulation to illustrate the conditions under which cross-sectional analyses can produce misleading results. Finally, we discuss the import of the fertility convergence we document for debates about immigrant assimilation.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Demography

DOI

EISSN

1533-7790

ISSN

0070-3370

Publication Date

August 2008

Volume

45

Issue

3

Start / End Page

651 / 671

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Middle Aged
  • Mexico
  • Intergenerational Relations
  • Humans
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 19th Century
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Fertility
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Parrado, E. A., & Morgan, S. P. (2008). Intergenerational fertility among Hispanic women: new evidence of immigrant assimilation. Demography, 45(3), 651–671. https://doi.org/10.1353/dem.0.0023
Parrado, Emilio A., and S Philip Morgan. “Intergenerational fertility among Hispanic women: new evidence of immigrant assimilation.Demography 45, no. 3 (August 2008): 651–71. https://doi.org/10.1353/dem.0.0023.
Parrado EA, Morgan SP. Intergenerational fertility among Hispanic women: new evidence of immigrant assimilation. Demography. 2008 Aug;45(3):651–71.
Parrado, Emilio A., and S. Philip Morgan. “Intergenerational fertility among Hispanic women: new evidence of immigrant assimilation.Demography, vol. 45, no. 3, Aug. 2008, pp. 651–71. Epmc, doi:10.1353/dem.0.0023.
Parrado EA, Morgan SP. Intergenerational fertility among Hispanic women: new evidence of immigrant assimilation. Demography. 2008 Aug;45(3):651–671.
Journal cover image

Published In

Demography

DOI

EISSN

1533-7790

ISSN

0070-3370

Publication Date

August 2008

Volume

45

Issue

3

Start / End Page

651 / 671

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Middle Aged
  • Mexico
  • Intergenerational Relations
  • Humans
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 19th Century
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Fertility