Economic Opportunities and Immigrant Youth Violence

Abstract

This study examines self-reported delinquency among immigrant youth to determine the effects of both legitimate and illegitimate opportunities on youth violence. Data from the study show that parental employment reduces, but youth’s intensive work during the school year and involvement in property crime increase, the risk of youth violence. Although findings from the study indicate the importance of parental employment in preventing immigrant youth’s violence, the study suggests that the relationship between employment and violence can change over the life course, and youth’s intensive work while attending school may not be beneficial for preventing youth violence. The effect of economic opportunities on the risk of youth violence is also implied in the relationship between negative neighborhood characteristics and youth violence and helps explain higher level of violence among Latino immigrant youths.