Publications - Economics

The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute has published over 200 articles covering diverse subjects, from Latinos in the media to Latino voting patterns. Publications are organized by topic. Current releases - those published since 1998 - are listed below; please see the archived publications links for research dating before then.

The progress and future well-being of the Latino community largely depends on the successful development of a strong and dynamic economic base. TRPI's economic research initiatives focus on shifts in the work force, poverty and underclass issues, and entrepreneurship and economic development. Today's economy is a dynamic field characterized by globalization, expansion, and technological dependence and in an effort to understand the effect that current economic trends are having on the Latino community, TRPI’s research topics will be combined with an analysis of the evolving global economy.

Growth of Latino-owned businesses
Latino-owned firms are growing at phenomenal rates and represent a significant source of employment and wealth creation across the country. Consider that the number of Latino-owned businesses has doubled in size in the last 15 years – a clear indication of the existence of a large and growing base of entrepreneurial talent within the Latino community. As these enterprises reach a critical mass, it will be increasingly vital to evaluate their sources of success so that policymakers and industry leaders can create strategies to cultivate their continued growth.

Globalization
One of the most distinctive features of globalization is the blurring of traditional boundaries that have defined nations and states and the relations between them. As immigration and the transnational links within the Americas increase, the foreign-born component of America's Latino population gains significance. TRPI's ambitious research agenda explores the ways in which

Latinos are responding to the new global phenomena. Globalization has a particularly strong effect on foreign-born Latinos, since it transforms not only their communities in the United States, but redefines their relationship with their countries of origin. As part of its research in this area, TRPI examines the significant role Latinos play worldwide as their numbers grow and the Americas become increasingly interdependent.