The Cost of Being Chinese,Japanese,and Filipino in the United States 1960,1970,1976

Abstract

Asian-Americans have been considered “model minorities”—a group which has “made it” in American society. Analysis was conducted to ascertain whether or not Asian-Americans in general and the Japanese, Chinese, and Filipinos in particular have “made it” economically. By defining “making it” as reaching earnings parity with Anglo males, it is concluded that only the Japanese have “made it” in American society (in 1969 and 1975). Multiple classification analysis was conducted to measure the earnings differentials between the Anglo and Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino males net of differences attributable to generational status, number of completed years of schooling, and socioeconomic status. The residual gap represents the “cost” of ethnic membership. It is concluded that the “cost” of being Japanese and Filipino in the United States has declined since the 1960s, that the Japanese experience some economic discrimination, and Filipinos experience no economic discrimination in regard to returns for generational status, education, and occupational status. However, the “cost” of being Chinese has remained quite substantial.