Multiple Origins, Uncertain Destinies

Given current demographic trends, nearly one in five U.S. residents will beof Hispanic origin by 2025. This major demographic shift and its implicationsfor both the United States and the growing Hispanic population makeMultiple Origins, Uncertain Destinies a most timely book. This report from theNational Research Council describes how Hispanics are transforming thecountry as they disperse geographically. It considers their roles in schools, inthe labor market, in the health care system, and in U.S. politics.

The book looks carefully at the diverse populations encompassed by theterm "Hispanic," representing immigrants and their children and grandchildrenfrom nearly two dozen Spanish-speaking countries. It describes thetrajectory of the younger generations and established residents, and it projectslong-term trends in population aging, social disparities, and socialmobility that have shaped and will shape the Hispanic experience.