The impact of the partner on the economic incorporation of immigrants. Household specialization or social capital?

This study examines the role of the partner in the economic incorporation of immigrant men and women. It derives hypotheses from household specialization theory and social capital theory, leading to opposite expectations on the impact of the partner's labour-market resources and employment status. To test the hypotheses, the study relies on data from a repeated, cross-sectional household survey that has been designed to examine four important ethnic minority groups in the Netherlands (Turks, Moroccans, Surinamese and Dutch Antilleans). The results do not support the theory of household specialization but are mostly in line with social capital theory. Most notably, it appears that immigrants with a partner who has obtained a high education in the country of origin and the Netherlands are more likely to be employed and have a higher status job. The positive role of partner's education yields for both men and women and persists even when immigrants own education and other skills are taken into account.