May 17, 2023
Streets of Gold: America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success
Leah Boustan
Professor of Economics, Princeton University
Micky Weyeneth, Introducer, and Leah Boustan, speaker
Minutes of the 32th Meeting of the 81st Year
President John Cotton called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM and Julia Coale led the invocation. One hundred fifteen members were present.
Lee Gladden read the minutes of the previous meeting. President Cotton introduced the guests: Joe Battat, Guest of Earlene Baumunk; Paul Levee, Guest of Bruce Schragger.
Gregg Dobbs reminded members that membership applications will continue to be processed, that new membership lists had been sent out and suggested ways to amend the information if desired. He introduced the new Membership Committee Chair, Teri Lemischka.
President John Cotton gave a brief overview of the recent history of the Old Guard and recognized and thanked all who keep the Old Guard successfully going: the Program Committee, AV Committee, Minute Takers, Dermot Gately, Julie Denny, Rob Coghan, BFG, Cynthia, Sandy, Gregg, George, Micky, Rick, Joan, and Stephen Schreiber.
John Cotton announced the next meeting will be Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at Springdale Golf Club. Hospitality will begin at 9:30 a.m. The complete Fall Program of Speakers will be sent out during the summer.
Micky Weyeneth introduced the speaker Leah Boustan, Professor of Economics at Princeton University whose subject was “Streets of Gold: America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success.” Leah Boustan is Professor of Economics and director of the Industrial Relations Section at Princeton University: Codirector of the Development of the American Economy Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Professor Boustan presented an animated talk about the results of in-depth research conducted with novel methods using existing data. She pointed out that her career started as an undergraduate student at Princeton University where she was encouraged by Professor Henry Farber, husband of Micky Weyeneth. Professor Farber invited her to work for him in the summer to pursue her interests and is now her colleague down the hall.
The basis for the research was the plan to study the fate of large numbers of immigrant families over time, rather than following individual success stories. It was expected to challenge existing myths and it did.
More details are presented in her recent book, written with her fellow researcher Ran Abramitzky, Streets of Gold, America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success, Public Affairs, New York, 2022.
One myth is the rags to riches story about immigrants. Professor Boustan quoted a wall inscription in the Ellis Island Museum, “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I found out three things: First, the streets were not paved with gold; second, they weren’t paved at all; and third, I was expected to pave them.”
The first research tool was Ancestry.com where information was collected. It raised suspicions at the company when large amounts of data were extracted, and a cease-and-desist phone call followed. The researchers were able to convince Ancestry.com that they were conducting scholarly research, and the company became very cooperative.
Census data were also used after algorithms were developed, allowing the identification of individuals over several census iterations. In more modern times tax records and social security numbers can be used to follow individuals.
Professor Boustan illustrated with her own great-grandfather’s life that the first generation of immigrants is likely to hold its own but the next generation will rise.
A number of myths were debunked:
Myth: there is an unprecedented flood of immigrants. There is not.
Myth: Ellis Island immigrants rose quickly, “rags to riches,” but today’s immigrants do not. This is not supported by data. Not all Ellis Island immigrants came in rags, but those that arrived poor did not rise to riches.
Myth: Immigrant families are stuck in an underclass. Instead, the rise of the second generation is seen throughout. Children born to American families move up more slowly. One explanation may be that immigrants tend to gravitate to places with better opportunities for advancement.
Myth: Immigrants do not try to become Americans these days. Not so. The backgrounds of immigrants today are more diverse than those at times when barriers excluded non-Europeans, but the pattern of assimilation did not change. One measurement was the choice of children’s names, which became more “American” over time. Refugees appear to assimilate faster than economic immigrants.
Professor Boustan raised the question of why it is so hard to change immigration policy. The short answer is polarization across political parties.
On Gallup polls, 75% say immigration is good for the country.
In the past both parties tended to be anti-immigration. Over a period of 20 years, 1945 – 1965, that changed and both parties were favorably inclined towards immigration. As measured by computer review, the average attitude of speeches in the Congressional Record is positive these days. More recently, the Democratic party remained positive and the Republican party turned negative with an increasing polarization.
Can that change? Professor Boustan thinks we can take heart in a case from the history of the United States when strong politicians were able to shift the national conversation on immigration.
Respectfully submitted,
Rainer Muser
Lee Gladden read the minutes of the previous meeting. President Cotton introduced the guests: Joe Battat, Guest of Earlene Baumunk; Paul Levee, Guest of Bruce Schragger.
Gregg Dobbs reminded members that membership applications will continue to be processed, that new membership lists had been sent out and suggested ways to amend the information if desired. He introduced the new Membership Committee Chair, Teri Lemischka.
President John Cotton gave a brief overview of the recent history of the Old Guard and recognized and thanked all who keep the Old Guard successfully going: the Program Committee, AV Committee, Minute Takers, Dermot Gately, Julie Denny, Rob Coghan, BFG, Cynthia, Sandy, Gregg, George, Micky, Rick, Joan, and Stephen Schreiber.
John Cotton announced the next meeting will be Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at Springdale Golf Club. Hospitality will begin at 9:30 a.m. The complete Fall Program of Speakers will be sent out during the summer.
Micky Weyeneth introduced the speaker Leah Boustan, Professor of Economics at Princeton University whose subject was “Streets of Gold: America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success.” Leah Boustan is Professor of Economics and director of the Industrial Relations Section at Princeton University: Codirector of the Development of the American Economy Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Professor Boustan presented an animated talk about the results of in-depth research conducted with novel methods using existing data. She pointed out that her career started as an undergraduate student at Princeton University where she was encouraged by Professor Henry Farber, husband of Micky Weyeneth. Professor Farber invited her to work for him in the summer to pursue her interests and is now her colleague down the hall.
The basis for the research was the plan to study the fate of large numbers of immigrant families over time, rather than following individual success stories. It was expected to challenge existing myths and it did.
More details are presented in her recent book, written with her fellow researcher Ran Abramitzky, Streets of Gold, America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success, Public Affairs, New York, 2022.
One myth is the rags to riches story about immigrants. Professor Boustan quoted a wall inscription in the Ellis Island Museum, “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I found out three things: First, the streets were not paved with gold; second, they weren’t paved at all; and third, I was expected to pave them.”
The first research tool was Ancestry.com where information was collected. It raised suspicions at the company when large amounts of data were extracted, and a cease-and-desist phone call followed. The researchers were able to convince Ancestry.com that they were conducting scholarly research, and the company became very cooperative.
Census data were also used after algorithms were developed, allowing the identification of individuals over several census iterations. In more modern times tax records and social security numbers can be used to follow individuals.
Professor Boustan illustrated with her own great-grandfather’s life that the first generation of immigrants is likely to hold its own but the next generation will rise.
A number of myths were debunked:
Myth: there is an unprecedented flood of immigrants. There is not.
Myth: Ellis Island immigrants rose quickly, “rags to riches,” but today’s immigrants do not. This is not supported by data. Not all Ellis Island immigrants came in rags, but those that arrived poor did not rise to riches.
Myth: Immigrant families are stuck in an underclass. Instead, the rise of the second generation is seen throughout. Children born to American families move up more slowly. One explanation may be that immigrants tend to gravitate to places with better opportunities for advancement.
Myth: Immigrants do not try to become Americans these days. Not so. The backgrounds of immigrants today are more diverse than those at times when barriers excluded non-Europeans, but the pattern of assimilation did not change. One measurement was the choice of children’s names, which became more “American” over time. Refugees appear to assimilate faster than economic immigrants.
Professor Boustan raised the question of why it is so hard to change immigration policy. The short answer is polarization across political parties.
On Gallup polls, 75% say immigration is good for the country.
In the past both parties tended to be anti-immigration. Over a period of 20 years, 1945 – 1965, that changed and both parties were favorably inclined towards immigration. As measured by computer review, the average attitude of speeches in the Congressional Record is positive these days. More recently, the Democratic party remained positive and the Republican party turned negative with an increasing polarization.
Can that change? Professor Boustan thinks we can take heart in a case from the history of the United States when strong politicians were able to shift the national conversation on immigration.
Respectfully submitted,
Rainer Muser