Socioeconomic achievements of holocaust survivors in israel: the first and second genderation

This study examines the socioeconomic achievements of first and second generation Holocaust survivors who emigrated from Europe to Israel following World War II. The achievements of the two groups, as indicated by years of schooling, occupational status and salary levels, were assessed in comparison to former immigrants of the same age cohorts and ethnic origin. The findings reveal that approximately 30 years after their arrival, the Holocaust survivors were still lagging behind the earlier immigrants, due mainly to differences in return on human capital characteristics. However, the results were reversed in the second generation, with the survivors' children performing relatively better then their Israeli- born counterparts. These findings are discussed in terms of the contrasting influences of the Holocaust and its aftermath on the economic orientations of the two generations of survivors. On a more general level this study calls attention to the concept of generation experience as a critical variable in immigration theory and research.