Getting ahead in the capitalist paradise: Migration from China and socioeconomic attainment in Colonial Hong Kong

摘要: This article examines the initial labor market outcome and subsequent mobility process of Chinese immigrants in Colonial Hong Kong using complete work history data event modeling. Contrary to rhetoric that is a capitalist paradise for adventurers, showed were penalized their class placement, mobility, current income attainment. Differences educational attainment lack transferability pre-migration human capital partly explained gap between natives. Yet disadvantage was also embedded local economic structure. The deindustrialization significantly lowered chance getting good first jobs when entering market. Moreover, since benefited natives by providing them with more opportunities service sector, it inadvertently widened upward chances immigrants.