Using 1990, 2000 censuses and a 2010 survey, I examine the economic performance of
ethnically Chinese immigrants from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan (CHT) in the
U.S. labor market. Since 1990, relative wages of CHT migrants have been escalating in
contrast to other immigrants. I show these widening gaps are largely explained by individual’s
endowments, mostly education. Rising U.S.-earned degrees by CHT migrants can account
for this relatively successful economic assimilation. Cohort analysis shows that the economic
performance of CHT migrants admitted to the U.S. has been improving, even allowing for the
effect of aging.