PAPERS, Briefs, & Reports
The Latino Naturalization Lag: Latino Immigrants Take Longer to Naturalize than Asian Immigrants
Asians naturalize soon after immigration while Latinos take longer, but the lag is smaller for Latinos in Generation X than it was for Latino baby boomers, a change that should improve the financial well being of Latino Gen Xers.
by Zachary D. Gassoumis, Kathleen H. Wilber, Chon Noriega, Max Benavidez, and Fernando Torres-Gil
The Latino population within the Baby Boom generation includes a large number of immigrants. A recent study authored by the Latinos & Economic Security research team found that in 2000, 57% of Latino and 88% of Asian boomers had immigrated to the U.S. Among these Latinos, 37% of immigrants had naturalized, compared to 57% of the Asian immigrants. Our research also found sharp differences in financial well being based on immigration and naturalization status, with the income of naturalized Latino baby boomers being over 60% higher than the income of non-citizen Latino boomers.
Latino Baby Boomers: A Demographic and Economic Profile
by Zachary D. Gassoumis, Kathleen H. Wilber, Lindsey A. Baker, and Fernando Torres-Gil
The United States population is experiencing two profound demographic changes: the aging of the baby boom generation—approximately 80 million individuals born between 1946 and 1964—and increasing cultural diversity. By 2030, the population of adults aged sixty-five and older will reach 72 million people, or nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population (He et al. 2005).
Advocacy for Latino Baby Boomers: Protecting an At Risk Population
by Carlos M. Haro with Francisco Javier Iribarren, Karina McCormack and Yvette Flores
Latino baby boomers are now on the cusp of retirement and old age. Even though many of these aging Latinos have limited resources and struggle to make ends meet, advocacy on behalf of elders in the United States has not considered the specific needs of aging Latinos, and advocacy on behalf of Latinos has not addressed the needs of elders.
Latino Baby Boomers: A Hidden Population
by Zachary D. Gassoumis, Kathleen H. Wilber and Fernando Torres-Gil
Latinos comprise 10 percent of the baby boom generation as well as a steadily increasing proportion of the U.S. population, making Latino baby boomers an important bellwether of demographic and economic change. Despite their importance, little research has explored the impact that Latino boomers are likely to have on families and communities and the policies that affect them. This policy brief summarizes what is known and not known about this hidden population.
Who are the Latino Baby Boomers? Examining the Demographic and Economic Characteristics of a Hidden Population
by Zachary D. Gassoumis, Kathleen H. Wilber and Fernando Torres-Gil
Latinos comprise 10 percent of the baby boom generation as well as a steadily increasing proportion of the U.S. population, making Latino baby boomers an important bellwether of demographic and economic change. Despite their importance, little research has explored the impact that Latino boomers are likely to have on families and communities and the policies that affect them. This policy brief summarizes what is known and not known about this hidden population. This report assesses what is known and not known about this hidden population.
Social Security Reform:
Implications for Latino Retirees
by Patricia A. Halliwell,
Zachary Gassoumis, and
Kathleen H. Wilber
Ethel Percy
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California
The impending retirement of the baby boom generation has increased debate on the long-term viability of Social Security and prompted a number of suggestions for reform. As a group, Latinos are particularly reliant on the Social Security safety net and thus are especially vulnerable to any changes made to the program.
Social Security Reform: How Various Options Will Affect Latino Retirees
by Patricia A. Halliwell, Zachary Gassoumis, and Kathleen H. Wilber
Ethel Percy
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California
Social Security has substantially improved the economic well-being of millions of Americans, and Latinos are particularly reliant on the program. Unfortunately, the impending retirement of the baby boom generation threatens the long-term viability of Social Security and may weaken the protection that the program offers to elderly Latinos. A number of proposals for reform are currently being debated. This report describes and analyzes these proposals and examines the impact that they will have on Latino retirees as a whole.
Impact of Social Security on the Latino Community
by Patricia A. Halliwell and
Kathleen H. Wilber
Ethel Percy
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California
As the population of the United States grows older and more diverse, the benefits provided by Social Security become increasingly consequential. Although any change to Social Security would affect all of America's elders, it would have a particularly profound impact on Latinos because, as a group, they tend to have a high life expectancy rate as well as low lifetime earnings.
Latinos and the Future of Social Security:
A Time to Act
by Fernando Torres-Gil, UCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging
Recent debates about the Social Security system have failed to take into account the impact of the current system on Latinos and how proposed changes could affect them. Yet Latinos share four characteristics that result in a higher rate of return on their Social Security contributions than that received by the U.S. population as a whole. This report offers policymakers a more complete picture of Social Security and its role within U.S. society.
Research
Research produced here by the Latinos & Economic Security project is available to all. If you do use or refer to the research, please note that it was produced by the Latinos & Economic Security project and, if possible, please note our website: latinoeconomicsecurity.org
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
Health Care Reform And Implications For The Latino Community
[English / Espaņol]
The Aging of the Latino Community in the United States: Lessons and Implications for Mexico
[English / Espaņol]
RESEARCH DATA & RESOURCES
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"The future of the United States will rest heavily on the next generation of workers and elders; populations heavily diverse and Latino and living longer. Thus, we must understand and respond to their unique demographics."
–Fernando Torres-GilUCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging