Human capital background and the educational attainment of second-generation immigrants in France

In this paper, we study the impact of parental human capital background on ethnic educational gaps between second-generation immigrants using a large data set conducted in France in 2003. Estimates from censored random effect ordered Probit regressions show that the skills of immigrants explain in the most part, the ethnic educational gap between their children. Fluency in French and the length of their parents’ stay in France also matter. The impact of the immigrants’ education on the educational attainment of their children further depends on their country of origin, their place of schooling, and their proficiency in French.

► In France, skills of immigrants explain in the most part, the ethnic educational gap between their children.
► Fluency in French and the length of their parents’ stay in France also matter.
► The impact of the immigrants’ education on the educational attainment of their children further depends on their country of origin and on their proficiency in French.