Oct 15, 2009

Carolina Population Center Fellows John D. Kasarda and James H. Johnson, Jr. studied the economic impact of the growing Hispanic population in North Carolina. Their findings were featured in a recent news story by america.gov, an information source developed by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs.

Vying for a Slice of One State’s Growing Hispanic Consumer Market (by staff writer Andrzej Zwaniecki)
http://www.america.gov/st/business-english/2009/September/20090922124734saikceinawz0.359646.html

Excerpt from the america.gov story:
“North Carolina’s Hispanic population — nearly three-quarters of which is Mexican in origin — contributed more than $9 billion to the state’s economy in 2004 through purchases, taxes and labor at a net cost to the state of $61 million, according to a 2006 study by the University of North Carolina. The study projects that Hispanics’ contribution to the state’s economy could jump to $18 billion in 2009.

John Kasarda, who co-authored the study, said Hispanic workers have become indispensable to North Carolina’s economy. ‘Without Hispanic workers, some industries would simply collapse or wouldn’t be as competitive as they are,’ he said.”

The story references this original study:
Kasarda, John D. and James H, Johnson, Jr. The Economic Impact of the Hispanic Population on the State of North Carolina. 2006. Chapel Hill, NC: Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.
http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/assets/documents/2006_KenanInstitute_HispanicStudy.pdf

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