Ben Rissing, Brown University
Ben Rissing, Brown University
"House of Green Cards: Statistical or Preference-based Inequality in the Employment of Foreign Nationals"
"House of Green Cards: Statistical or Preference-based Inequality in the Employment of Foreign Nationals"
ABSTRACT: This study contributes to the labor market inequality and organizations literature by investigating the role that government agents play in shaping the employment of immigrants. Using unique data on applications for immigrant permanent labor certification evaluated by U.S. Department of Labor agents, we assess to what extent immigrants of select citizenship groups experience disparities in the labor certification process―one critical stage of the work authorization system leading to the granting of most employment-based green cards. Despite current U.S. laws that forbid discrimination on the basis of nationality, we find that labor certification approvals differ significantly depending on immigrants’ foreign citizenship, even after controlling for key factors. Additionally, because of the U.S. government’s unique process of auditing applications, we are in a rare position to empirically distinguish between statistical and preference-based accounts of labor market discrimination in the labor certification process. In support of the statistical account, we find that certification approvals are equally likely for immigrant workers from the vast majority of citizenship groups when agents review audited applications with detailed employment information. This article concludes by discussing the implications of our results for addressing disparities in the employment of foreign nationals.
BIO:
Dr. Ben A. Rissing is the Pearson Visiting Professor of Sociology and
Organizational Studies in the Department of Sociology at Brown University.
Ben studies the way individuals make decision in business, government, and
academic organizations. His research contributes to the sociology and
management literature on work and organizations, labor markets, and regulation
(both public and private) – while examining settings including immigrant work
authorization decisions, university admissions assessments, and voluntary codes
of conduct. Ben's research seeks ordered explanations to assess and better
understand complex social processes of managerial and policy importance. His
teaching interests include organizational behavior, labor markets and
employment, and human resource management.
Ben received his doctorate in management from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management; master's degrees in management
science and engineering management from MIT and Duke University, respectively;
and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of
Virginia. Before joining the Brown University Sociology Department, Dr. Rissing
was a Wertheim Fellow with the Harvard Law School and a Postdoctoral Research
Associate with the Brown University Watson Institute for International Studies.
PAPER: For those interested, please write to Ben
Rissing, <ben_rissing@brown.edu>
for a copy of the paper.
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