Wealth is an important measure of overall economic well-being, and influences migrants’ ability
to integrate into their new country. Using data from the 2002 HILDA survey, this study explores
the disparity between the wealth distributions of Australian and foreign-born households. Using
quantile regressions, the results reveal that immigrants accumulate less wealth than their
Australian-born counterparts and that the gap grows throughout the distribution. Further analysis
reveals that migrants are able to catch up to their native born counterparts not only through
greater time in Australia, but also through human capital accumulation, part of which may be
achieved in Australia.