The Economic Assimilation of Cuban Immigrants in the United States

THE ECONOMIC ASSIMILATION OF CUBAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES

By Spencer Shapiro

Background/Introduction

Immigrants can improve overall economic and social welfare, meaning they can contribute to the growth of our economy and society at large by enhancing their opportunities in the US, but only under proper conditions

Determined by:skills, knowledge, and experience they amass, or Human Capital.

Background/Introduction

Assimilation is measured by Hispanic homeownership

Can current and future immigrants become prosperous without losing their cultures? Look at predecessors’ experience How can government action can help?

Materials & Methods

Publicly available de-identified and anonymized data2010 American Community SurveyAmerican Fact Finder search engine. 

Cuban immigrants from:Miami-Dade and Broward counties in

Florida Hudson and Bergen counties in New

Jersey.

Materials & Methods The data consisted of variables that measured:

Educational attainment  Percentage of Cubans in the Hispanic population Percentage of Hispanics and Whites in the

total population, Percent of population that spoke

○ Spanish at home○ English very well ○ English less than very well ○ English only at home

Median income of both Hispanics and Whites Total labor force participation of both Hispanics and Whites Percent of Whites that own homes Median age

Materials & Methods A Principal Components Analysis was used

to demonstrate variables effect on census tractsCultural and Economic characteristics of

the areas. Regression model used to analyze

relationship betweenComponent variables and Hispanic

homeownership Do component variables indicate economic

assimilation in the census tracts?

Results

Table 1Component matrix for New Jersey counties:

BergenHudson

The values in the table created the descriptors for each component.

Results

Table 2Component matrix for Florida counties:

BrowardMiami-Dade

The values in the table created the descriptors for each component.

Results – Bergen County

Results – Hudson County

Results – Broward County

Results – Miami Dade County

Results

Tables 3, 6, 9, and 12: Components of principal component

values with Eigenvalues > 1.0 Percent of the variance each

component explains.

Results Tables 4, 7, 10, and 13 shows summary of model’s

regression analysis. Independent variables were the four factors found to have

an Eigenvalue > 1.0. Dependent variable for the regression was Hispanic

home ownership, the key variable in the analysis that determines economic assimilation.

Tables shows the r-square value for the models, indicating how much the independent variables explain the variance in Hispanic home ownership.

Tables show that all four models were significant, indicating the four factors together help explain Hispanic home ownership for each county.

Results Tables 5, 8, 11, and 14 show the regression

coefficients and the significance of each component.

For instance, in contrast to the entire model, components 3 and 4 of Bergen County are non-significant. Their β-coefficients are small Negligible impact on regression equation.

Another example is that components 1 and 2 of Bergen County are both significant, indicating they explain variance in Hispanic home ownership

Discussion

Results support hypothesis:Show Cuban immigrants have

assimilated economically into the United States.

Not every component supports the hypothesis that Cuban’s have assimilated economically, but not culturally.

Discussion

The regression for each model was significant in explaining Hispanic home ownership, Demonstrates each county’s population has

different characteristicsCharacteristics help explain Hispanic

homeownership in one county, but not in another,

Supports the idea that geography is important in determining economic assimilation.

Discussion Cuban residents who have achieved

economic assimilation, or homeownership have the ability to speak English well.

This does not entirely support the hypothesis.

Although Cubans have maintained some of their cultural background by remaining fluent in Spanish, the need to speak and understand English has impacted their success in this country.

Discussion It’s important that Cuban immigrants were given

political refugee statusGiven access to certain benefits other immigrant groups

may not have access to. It would not be feasible for the United States government

to offer refugee benefits to all the immigrants who entered the country each year.

Yet many of the programs that refugees have access to, are beneficial, and could have impacted the economic assimilation of Cuban immigrants, and other immigrant groups

The government should provide similar important programs to provide the head start to other immigrants that refugees are given.

Discussion The components that were significant for describing

economic assimilation in the four counties analyzed give an indication of the important factors for homeownership and economic assimilation, and in turn economic success.

These components include: High educational attainment High median income High labor force participation Ability to speak English well

Programs such as ESL courses, job training and placement, and loan programs for education, like the ones offered in the Cuban Refugee Program could significantly improve the conditions of new immigrants in this country.

Discussion

Immigration reform is being debated in the House of Representatives after being passed in the Senate earlier this year.

This bill would provide illegal immigrants a legal way to attain citizenship and make legal immigration more efficient.

A Refugee Protection Act is also being debated in the Senate. Would refine some of the issues with the Refugee Act of 1980

These two bills would change the face of the country, and give millions of people access to the benefits the United States can offer them, fulfilling their goals in coming to this country.

Discussion

Without government support, new immigrants may not be able to achieve economic success, the American Dream, and better the country as a whole.

This country was built on the backs of hard working immigrants

With government help new immigrants can help continue the positive legacy of immigration in this country.

Acknowledgements

Professor Ines M. MiyaresHunter College - CUNY

Dr. Zach LynnBronx High School of Science