In 2010, Hispanics represented one out of every six people in the U.S. (up from one out
of eight in 2000), such that the economic status of this population has become
increasingly important for the economic direction of the nation. This volume brings
together a group of scholars who analyze a variety of socioeconomic issues
(particularly those related to education, poverty, and health) to assess how Hispanics
have been faring relative to other Americans. A common theme across the chapters is
that Hispanics tend to lag behind non-Hispanics with respect to their economic
outcomes. Despite this lag, however, some of the studies indicate that Hispanics have been making progress in terms of
improving their relative economic position in recent years. Several of the chapters also discuss policy implications.
The intended audience includes social scientists, students, policymakers, and anyone interested in learning more about the
economic conditions of Hispanic Americans. Many of the authors employed rigorous statistical methods to analyze the
economic status of Hispanics, but the chapters were written to be accessible to a broad audience instead of one comprised
mainly of quantitatively-oriented academics.