Immigrant Integration in the United States: The Impact of Adult English Language Training on Civic and Economic Outcomes

• In Event: Adult Literacy and Adult Education Roundtable

Abstract

More than 25 million U.S. residents have limited English proficiency, representing 9% of the population aged five and older. We leverage the enrollment lottery for an adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program in Massachusetts to estimate the effects of attending ESOL classes on voting behavior and employer-reported earnings. Attending ESOL classes more than doubles rates of voter registration and increases annual earnings by $2,400 (56%) compared to applicants who were denied a spot. We estimate that increased tax revenue from earnings gains to participation fully pay for program costs over the working life of the participant and generate a 6% annual return for taxpayers.

Authors

• Kirsten Slungaard Mumma, Harvard University

• Blake Heller, Harvard University