Economic fights highlight wealth gap for Hispanics

*The bottom line is that wealth is power, to fund our own politics, culture and storytelling. VL

By Rafael Bernal and Mike Lillis, The Hill (5.5 minute read) 

Hispanics chasing the American Dream have seen their fortunes rise steadily over the years, except when it comes to the measure that might be most vital: accumulating wealth.

The most common gauge of economic well-being is income. But wealth is a far more comprehensive measure, taking into consideration things like home-ownership, investments, businesses and savings, while subtracting any debts. It’s a better barometer of how well families are able to weather emergencies, fund higher educations, start businesses and pass assets down to their children, thereby growing the fortunes of younger generations.

When all those things are considered, Hispanics are at an enormous disadvantage: Their wealth, relative to whites, is 8 cents on the dollar. And the divide has only grown over the years.

Read more NewsTaco stories on Facebook. >>  

Experts point to numerous factors driving the growing discrepancy –– some cultural, some economic and some political. But while there’s a general consensus that public policy plays a major role, there are sharp disagreements about which reforms would provide the more effective fix. READ MORE