Latest Book
The Truth About Immigration
Why successful societies welcome newcomers
Praise For the Book
Adam Grant
#1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking
Debates about immigration are at the forefront of politics, but they’re rarely informed by data. Zeke Hernandez has spent his career studying how immigrants affect our lives and our livelihoods, and his research is filled with results that will surprise both liberals and conservatives. Wherever you stand ideologically, his book will challenge you to rethink some of your views and reconsider the potential in people from foreign countries.
America needs more immigrants. That’s the message of this important new book by Zeke Hernandez. Cutting through the noise and misinformation that colors this debate, it marshals detailed data and moving personal stories to show how immigrants of all backgrounds and skill levels drive investment, innovation, and jobs; do essential work that Americans shy away from; create widespread economic gains; and make our cities and communities stronger and safer.
Richard Florida
author of The Rise of the Creative Class
David Card
Winner of the Nobel Prize and Class of 1950 Professor of Economics, University of California Berkeley
“In a wonderfully engaging style that combines anecdotes, personal stories, and state of the art research, Hernandez challenges the traditional narratives that portray immigrants as villains or victims. Readers will come away with a greater appreciation of their own communities and the growing body of research underlying this richly detailed book.”
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The Truth About Immigration
Immigration is one of the most controversial topics in the United States and everywhere else. Pundits, politicians, and the public usually depict immigrants as either villains or victims. The villain narrative is that immigrants pose a threat―to our economy because they steal our jobs; our way of life because they change our culture; and to our safety and laws because of their criminality. The victim argument tells us that immigrants are needy outsiders―the poor, huddled masses whom we must help at our own cost if necessary. But the data clearly debunks both narratives. From jobs, investment, and innovation to cultural vitality and national security, more immigration has an overwhelmingly positive impact on everything that makes a society successful.
In The Truth About Immigration, Wharton professor Zeke Hernandez draws from nearly 20 years of research to answer all the big questions about immigration. He combines moving personal stories with rigorous research to offer an accessible, apolitical, and evidence-based look at how newcomers affect our local communities and our nation. You'll learn about the overlooked impact of immigrants on investment and job creation; realize how much we take for granted the novel technologies, products, and businesses newcomers create; get the facts straight about perennial concerns like jobs, crime, and undocumented immigrants; and gain new perspectives on misunderstood issues such as the border, taxes, and assimilation.
Most books making a case for immigration tell you that immigration is good for immigrants. This book is all about how newcomers benefit you, your community, and your country. Skeptics fear that newcomers compete economically with locals because of their similarities and fail to socially assimilate because of their differences. You'll see that it's exactly the opposite: newcomers bring enduring economic benefits because of their differences and contribute positively to society because of their similarities. Destined to become the go-to book on one of the most important issues of our time, this book turns fear into hope by proving a simple truth: immigrants are essential for economically prosperous and socially vibrant nations.