My entry for the Sigma Xi competition.

1. By Spencer Shapiro

2. 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.

3. 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?

4. Materials & Methods
 Publicly
available de-identified and
anonymized data
 2010 American Community Survey
 American Fact Finder search engine.
 Cuban immigrants from:
 Miami-Dade and Broward counties in
Florida
 Hudson and Bergen counties in New
Jersey.

5. 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

6. Materials & Methods

A Principal Components Analysis was used
to demonstrate variables effect on census
tracts
 Cultural and Economic characteristics of
the areas.

Regression model used to analyze
relationship between
 Component variables and Hispanic
homeownership

Do component variables indicate economic
assimilation in the census tracts?

7. Results
Table 1
Component matrix for
New Jersey counties:
Bergen
Hudson
The values in the
table created the
descriptors for each
component.

8. Results
Table 2
Component matrix for
Florida counties:
Broward
Miami-Dade
The values in the
table created the
descriptors for each
component.

9. Results – Bergen County

10. Results – Hudson County

11. Results – Broward County

12. Results – Miami Dade County

13. Results
 Tables
3, 6, 9, and 12:
 Components of principal component
values with Eigenvalues > 1.0
 Percent of the variance each
component explains.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Discussion

The regression for each model was
significant in explaining Hispanic home
ownership,
 Demonstrates each county’s population has
different characteristics
 Characteristics help explain Hispanic
homeownership in one county, but not in
another,
 Supports the idea that geography is important
in determining economic assimilation.

18. 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.


19. Discussion

It’s important that Cuban immigrants were given
political refugee status
 Given 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.


23. Acknowledgements

Professor Ines M. Miyares
 Hunter College - CUNY

Dr. Zach Lynn
 Bronx High School of Science