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Papers by Roger White

Études internationales, 2012

Tous droits réservés © Études internationales, 2012 Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le dro... more Tous droits réservés © Études internationales, 2012 Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d'auteur. L'utilisation des services d'Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d'utilisation que vous pouvez consulter en ligne.

We examine U.S. immigration history both by recounting the related legislative history and by exa... more We examine U.S. immigration history both by recounting the related legislative history and by examining data on immigrant inflows and inflow shares during the period from 1820 through 2013. A descriptive analysis of the cultural differences between the U.S. and several cohorts of countries suggests that U.S. culture has been shaped by the pattern of immigrant arrivals. Broadly stated, American culture has evolved to be similar to those of European societies (predominantly, countries in Northern and Western Europe) and to largely be dissimilar to the cultures of other regions. Following the enactment of the Hart-Celler Act in 1968, the primary source regions of U.S. immigrant arrivals shifted to Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean Basin, and (to a lesser degree) Africa. We find some evidence that the U.S. has become more similar to the cultures of the recent arrivals’ source countries. Our econometric analysis tests for structural breaks in the level of the immigrant inflow and inf...

International Migration, 2017

We examine the effects of immigrants and cross-societal cultural differences on bilateral trade c... more We examine the effects of immigrants and cross-societal cultural differences on bilateral trade costs using two alternative measures of cultural differences (i.e. cultural distance and genetic distance). We find that bilateral trade costs generally increase with a rise in the cultural distance between trading partners but fall with a rise in the stock of immigrants. This implies that immigrants counter bilateral trade costs that are associated with greater cultural differences. Our observation is relevant from both migration and trade policy perspectives as it provides further evidence that immigrants serve as conduits for bridging cultural differences, facilitate international transactions, and enhance global economic integration.

Development Policy Review, 2013

Measuring Multidimensional Poverty and Deprivation, 2017

In recent years, academics, policy makers, and members of the general public of the United States... more In recent years, academics, policy makers, and members of the general public of the United States have exhibited increased interest in the measurement and remediation of poverty. To some degree, the increased interest is likely attributable to the effects of the 2007-2009 recession. As evidence of the impact of the recession, during the years 2010-2014, the annual average poverty rate in the United States was 14.9% (U.S. Census 2015). This is the highest 5-year average poverty rate of any interval since the mid-1960s, and the 2014 poverty rate of 15.1% is the second highest rate reported since 1966 (DeNavis-Walt and Proctor 2015). 1 These statistics provide a measure of income-based deprivation in the United States; however, a number of researchers have noted that income-and consumption-based

International Review of Applied Economics, 2016

Using annual data for China and 88 trading partners that span the period 1995-2011, we estimate w... more Using annual data for China and 88 trading partners that span the period 1995-2011, we estimate whether cross-societal cultural differences influence China's external trade flows. Our results, obtained from the estimation of a series of multi-level mixed effect random intercepts and coefficients models, indicate that China's aggregate exports and imports are largely unaffected by the cultural distance between China and its trading partners. Examination of disaggregate trade measures and consideration of the underlying dimensions of our composite cultural distance variable produces a largely similar result. Taken collectively, our results suggest that China's trade is less affected by cultural distance than has been reported for other countries in similar studies.

We highlight that an increase in the stock of immigrants corresponds with greater numbers of U.S.... more We highlight that an increase in the stock of immigrants corresponds with greater numbers of U.S. firms that engage in exporting to foreign markets. Our results are obtained from the estimation of a multi-level mixed effects model. Overall, the effect of immigrants is relatively larger among small- and medium-sized enterprises and is smaller among large-sized enterprises. There are, however, considerable differences, both in the magnitude and in nature of the observed effects of immigrants on manufactured and non-manufactured goods exporters of comparable size categories. Similarly, heterogeneity is found in the effects of immigrants on the numbers of small-, medium-, and large-sized exporters across home country cohorts that are grouped by World Bank income classifications and by broad regional classifications of destination markets. These findings imply that immigration has the potential to alter the profile of domestic firms involved in exporting

A voluminous literature examines the immigrant-trade link. Available studies evaluate the link la... more A voluminous literature examines the immigrant-trade link. Available studies evaluate the link largely from the host country perspective and generally indicate that immigrants exert positive influences on trade between their host and home countries. Few studies, however, explore the effects of emigrants on trade. Using data representing the stocks of emigrants from 131 home countries that resided in 110 host countries during the year 2005, we examine the immigrant/emigrant-trade link from both the home country perspective and the host country perspective. Doing so, we provide the first comprehensive estimates of pro-trade emigrant effects for each home country in our study.

Multidimensional Poverty in America

To provide a foundation for our discussion of policy implications, we begin by summarizing the wo... more To provide a foundation for our discussion of policy implications, we begin by summarizing the work that is presented in earlier chapters. This includes discussion of the structure of the book and details regarding the content of each chapter, including general discussion of the related findings. The remainder of the chapter is devoted to a discussion of several broad implications for public policy, including the need to avoid “one size fits all” policy actions, the ineffectiveness of growth-oriented macroeconomic policies as solutions for multidimensional poverty, and a number of deprivations that policy makers may wish to target.

Economics Bulletin, 2013

We examine the relationship between source-destination country cultural differences and internati... more We examine the relationship between source-destination country cultural differences and international migration flows using data for three immigrant destination countries (i.e., Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands) and a cohort of 66 heterogeneous immigrant source countries during the years 1997-2002. Results obtained from the estimation of our empirical specifications using the Negative Binomial regression technique indicate that, all else equal, cultural distance is negatively related to migration flows and that larger existing immigrant stocks correspond with larger subsequent migration flows. These findings are consistent with the results reported in Belot and Ederveen (2012). Extending the literature, we report that existing immigrant stocks act to offset the migration-inhibiting influences of cultural distance. Finally, we report variation across Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands both in terms of the migration-inhibiting influence of cultural distance and in the extents ...

Employing data for Italy and 68 trade partners that span the period 1996 2001, we examine the rol... more Employing data for Italy and 68 trade partners that span the period 1996 2001, we examine the role of immigrants in influencing Italian exports to and imports from their respective home countries. Particular emphasis is placed on variation in the immigrant trade relationship across Former Soviet Republic FSR and Post Communist PCOM country classifications relative to immigrants from non FSR and non PCOM countries. The findings provide information that may assist in policy formulation and lead to more enlightened public and political debates of the issue. Immigrants are generally found to exert pro trade influences, with proportional immigrant effects being somewhat comparable across home country classifications. However, estimated per immigrant effects, in absolute terms, of immigrants from FSR or PCOM countries are greater in magnitude as compared to the effects of immigrants from non FSR and non PCOM countries. JEL Classifications: F14, F15, F22

Economic Issues Journal Articles, 2007

Immigrant-trade links are examined with an emphasis placed on variation across product types and ... more Immigrant-trade links are examined with an emphasis placed on variation across product types and home country income classifications. Data for the US and 70 trading partners spanning the 1980-1997 period are employed. We find the immigrant-trade relationship varies based on degree of product differentiation and by home country per-capita income. In response to a hypothetical 10 percent increase in the immigrant stock variable, US imports of differentiated goods from high income countries increase by approximately 2 percent. A like increase in the immigrant stock from low income countries increases US differentiated goods imports by 4.25 percent, while exports of homogenous goods increase by 2.5 to 4.3 percent. Imports of homogenous goods from high income nations and exports of all product types to these nations appear unaffected by immigrant stock levels.

The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will represent the world’s largest free-trade zone. In... more The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will represent the world’s largest free-trade zone. Increased trade increases product variety for consumers, promotes competition among fi rms, enhances production effi ciency, and spurs innovation. Relaxation of barriers to investment also will increase effi ciency—permitting funds to fl ow to the most effective investments—thereby yielding further gains. Unfortunately, the gains provided by the FTAA will not be without cost. Employment in some industries will expand as domestic production increases to meet foreign demand; however, increased competition from imports will contract domestic employment in other industries.

Employing data from nine OECD countries and 67 trading partners for the years 1996-2001, we exami... more Employing data from nine OECD countries and 67 trading partners for the years 1996-2001, we examine the inter-relationships between immigration, cultural diversity and trade. We find greater cultural differences bet ween immigrants' host and home countries inhibit trade flows. However, immigrants exert pro-trade influences that partially offset the effect of cultural distance. W e also find that greater cultural diversity within the immigrants' host countries is associated with the creation of trade between immigrants' host and home countries. The findings s uggest that the ability of immigrants to influence their host's trade with their home cou ntries depends, in part, on the characteristics of the host country relative to the home country.

Journal of Economic Integration, 2015

Calibrating a stylized version of the Dornbusch-Fischer-Samuelson model, this paper finds that re... more Calibrating a stylized version of the Dornbusch-Fischer-Samuelson model, this paper finds that relative to a cohort of 97 trading partners, the US capital stock, labor force, and nominal GDP per capita decreased, while the level of technology embodied in its output increased. These observed dynamics suggest a shift in comparative advantage that, coupled with increased production at the extensive and intensive margins, yields an expectation of labor market churning. Grouping trading partners by World Bank income classifications reveals that observed changes for low and lower middle income cohorts resulted in more pronounced shifts in comparative advantage. Examining employment and earnings in US manufacturing industries, a dynamic regression model reveals that increased import penetration has significant negative effects on production worker employment and wages, while increases in exports has significant positive effects on production worker employment. Variation in labor market outcomes is found across income classifications, as well as industries categorized by trade orientation.

National Institute Economic Review

Examining data for 79 immigrant source countries and six OECD member destination countries during... more Examining data for 79 immigrant source countries and six OECD member destination countries during the years 1975–2000, we find that source-destination cultural differences inhibit international migration. We also report that existing immigrant stocks act to offset, at least in part, the migration-inhibiting effects of cultural differences. Employing educational attainment as a proxy for skill, we find variation across low-, medium-, and high-skilled immigrant cohorts both with respect to the cultural distance-migration relationship and in terms of the extent to which existing immigrant stocks offset the influence of cultural differences. Our results appear robust to econometric techniques, sample composition, and endogeneity issues.

International Journal of Economics and Business Research

Using data that represent the six-digit North American Industrial Classification System-classifie... more Using data that represent the six-digit North American Industrial Classification System-classified industries that comprise the US manufacturing sector and that span the years 1989-2005, we test the validity of the smooth adjustment hypothesis (SAH). To our knowledge, this is the first examination of the SAH for the USA. The results of our empirical analysis are consistent with the confirmation of the SAH. Further, using measures of vertical marginal intra-industry trade and of horizontal marginal intra-industry trade, we find that the latter has a stronger effect on employment of production workers than does the former. The findings suggest that for total industry-level employment and for industry-level production worker employment, intra-industry trade expansion inherently involves lower adjustment costs as compared to interindustry trade expansion.

Journal of International Migration and Integration Revue De L Integration Et De La Migration Internationale, Apr 15, 2009

This article examines the pro-trade influence of immigrants using data on state-level exports fro... more This article examines the pro-trade influence of immigrants using data on state-level exports from the 48 contiguous USA to 28 countries during the year 1993. Immigrants from lesser developed countries are found to exert stronger proportional effects on state-level exports relative to the immigrants from more developed countries. Calculation of absolute immigrant effects at state, regional and national levels also reveal influences of immigrants from developing countries are of greater magnitude; however, results depend on the metric employed to categorize countries as developing or developed. The findings emphasize the importance of immigrants' connections to business and social networks and allow for an improved understanding of the role that information asymmetries play in fomenting opportunities for immigrants to enhance trade.

Abstract This paper explores whether imports and exports affect industry employment differently b... more Abstract This paper explores whether imports and exports affect industry employment differently based on the industry's trade orientation. Effects of trade are examined for both production and non-production employment using data for 384 6-digit manufacturing industries, classified by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS), and 116 trading partners that span the years 1972 to 2001. Additionally, the paper considers potential employment effects stemming from shifts in import sources from high-to low- ...