 STUDY SHOWS HISPANIC MIDDLE CLASS GROWING
A new study from the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute shows that contrary to common perception, Hispanics in the US are making strong economic gains. The study, authored by two professors, Frank Bean of the University of California, Irvine and Stephen Trejo of the University of Texas, indicates that Hispanics are joining the middle class, a trend that is often overlooked because of the predominance of recent Hispanic immigrants in low paying jobs.
One group in particular that the study examined was native born Hispanics. The authors say that this group represents the achievements of assimilation. According to the study, members of this group have been making noticeable gains. For example, in 1979 only 10.7 percent of native born Hispanics obtained college degrees. In 1998, this had risen to 15.4 percent. Interestly, while college educated Hispanic women earn the same amount as college educated white women, college educated Hispanic men earn less on average than college educated white men.
On of the best signs for the future, according to the study, is the fact that households headed by an immigrant from Mexico spend about the same amount of money on education as similarly situated white households. While only 40 percent of Hispanic households were middle class (defined as earning at least $ 40,000 a year) in 1998, the authors say that one reason for this is high levels of immigration. The number of Hispanic families living in poverty has increased dramatically in recent years. The authors believe that as these families live longer in the US, they too will join the middle class.
The study may be ordered from the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute for $ 25. A press release about it is available online at http://www.trpi.org/press/021401.html.
| 
