@techreport{cd23f866719645a6bd8057fbb44a70ac,
title = "The Economic Returns to Multiple Language Usage in Western Europe",
abstract = "To what extent are there economic returns to learning a second or third language? Do the benefits differ according to country? This paper examines the return to multi-lingualism in the workplace. In particular, we estimate the effect that using an additional language in one's job has on earnings for a sample of workers in the European Community Household Panel survey. Log-earnings regressions are estimated by country with controls for standard human capital, job, and personal characteristics. Preliminary results indicate that the use of a second language in the workplace raises earnings by about 5 to 10 percent, but the results are sensitive to the specification used and vary across countries, occupations, and gender.",
keywords = "Western Europe, language usage",
author = "Williams, {Donald r.}",
year = "2006",
language = "English",
series = "IRISS Working Papers",
publisher = "CEPS/INSTEAD",
number = "2006-07",
type = "WorkingPaper",
institution = "CEPS/INSTEAD",
}