Understanding the Marginalized: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Economic Issues Facing Latinos in the 21st Century

Hays, Alexander

Understanding the Marginalized: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Economic Issues Facing Latinos in the 21st Century

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/7982

Author(s)

Hays, Alexander

Date Issued

April 1, 2009

Abstract

Latinos in the United States, both natural born and immigrants, represent an important and growing segment of the U.S. population and labor force. However, like many minorities, Latinos suffer from a wage gap when compared with White workers. This puts them at an economic disadvantage that has seemingly stalled the economic progress of Latinos. This study attempts to look at the situation through two separate lenses: a quantitative economic analysis and a qualitative cultural study. Previous work on the Latino wage gap suggest that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 may be having an adverse affect on the Latino wage in addition to standard labor market forces. Indeed, the results of the empirical test in this study suggest that human capital deficiencies, discrimination and government issued fines are still having a negative effect on the Latino wage. Furthermore, it is possible to see the variations in economic outcomes between different nationalities through a cultural study of Mexican-Americans and Cuban-Americans. While the cultural study provides a more detailed perspective of the economic situation of Latinos, in many ways it also reaffirms the findings of the economic analysis. The issues brought to light in the economic analysis are seen clearly in the representation of Mexican-American workers who suffer from wages well below the average Latino salary. In contrast, Cuban-Americans live relatively comfortable lower-middle class lives due to the strong, established Cuban community in the U.S. Together the two analyses expose some of the serious issues afflicting Latino economic progress; however, a possible solution emerges that involves strengthening the less established communities to help current and future generations of Latinos in the U.S.

Honors

Economics, 2009

Spanish, 2009

First Reader(s)

Martin, Stephanie M.