Pacific Standard May-June 2013 Cover

Will Hispanics Take Over American Politics?

Party Identification among Eligible Hispanic Voters in Midterm Elections

The rapid growth in the U.S. Hispanic population over the last 40 years — both in terms of raw numbers and percentage of the population — is probably the most important emergent force in American politics today. The evidence is around us: In 2008, each party conducted an entire presidential primary debate in Spanish. In 2009, the first Hispanic judge, Sonia Sotomayor, was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. And in 2010, for the first time ever in a single election, three Hispanic candidates won top statewide offices: Republican Brian Sandoval became Nevada's first Hispanic governor; ... Read More

Does Education Really Make You Smarter?

Whether it is measured in degrees obtained or years of schooling completed, education correlates with many positive life outcomes, including income, civil and political participation (including the act of voting), charitable giving, life expectancy, health and well-being. Education is also negatively correlated with many "high-risk" behaviors; the less educated you are, the more likely you are to smoke, engage in substance abuse or commit crimes. But many questions remain unanswered about the precise mechanisms of cause and effect between education and these life outcomes. Does education, for ... Read More