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Immigrants Today:

A Plus to America

Richard Vedder

Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus at Ohio University

The 4% Growth Project Fellow, George W. Bush Institute

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http://www.census.gov/prod/2012/pubs/acs-19.pdf

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$50.5 $45.9

$63.8 $51.8

$64.1 $71.4

$38.2 $35.3 $41.3

$49.7 $39.9

$0.0$10.0$20.0$30.0$40.0$50.0$60.0$70.0$80.0

Tho

usa

nd

s

Figure 1: Median Household Income: Area of Immigrant Origin

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Asia 28.2%

Mexico 29.3%

Other Latin America 14.5%

Europe 12.1%

Africa 4.0%

Caribbean 9.3%

Other 2.6%

Figure 2: Origin of Immigrants, 2010

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http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/02/21/statistical-portrait-of-the-foreign-born-population-in-the-United-Stateshttp://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/02/21/statistical-portrait-of-the-foreign-born-population-in-the-United-States

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26.5%

62.9%

13.2% 7.1%

80.5%

12.4% 0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

Under 18 18 to 64 65 and over

Figure 4: Age Distribution, Natives and Foreign

Born, 2010

Native Foreign Born

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1.52

4.13

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Native Foreign Born

Figure 5: Worker/Non-Worker Ratio, 2010

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68.1%

78.9%

60%

62%

64%

66%

68%

70%

72%

74%

76%

78%

80%

Native Foreign Born

Figure 6: Male Labor Force Participation, 2010

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11

12

13

14

15

14.8%

18.8% 20.7%

14.0%

10.0%

23.6%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

Native Foreign

Born

African Asian European Latin

American

Po

ver

ty R

ate

Figure 7: Poverty Rates, 2010

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