New Study on the Impact of 9-11 on the Employment and Earnings of U.S. Muslims

Former graduate student Faisal Rabby and I have completed a study that examines the impact that the 9-11 attacks had on the employment and earnings of U.S. Muslims.

Here is a summary:

Using a difference-in-differences framework and micro data from the Current Population Survey-Merged Outgoing Rotation Group Files (1999 to 2004), we estimate the impact that the 9-11 terrorists attacks had on the U.S. labor market outcomes of individuals with nativity profiles similar to the terrorists.

We find that 9-11 and the anti-terrorism measures were associated with a relative decrease in employment and hours worked of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. The largest decreases were among the youngest immigrant men (ages 16 to 25) from the Middle East (excluding Israel), Iran and Afghanistan, whose demographic profiles are the closest to the terrorists. Most significant is the finding that even for the youngest men, the adverse impacts appear to be short lived. Many of the estimated losses dissipate by the end of 2004. The employment-population ratios and hours worked of older Muslim men experienced little deterioration.

Contact me if you want the full study.