Sociologist: Older, Whiter Texans have stake in educating younger Hispanics

From the Seattle Times-by Laura Brubaker Calkins

HOUSTON — Whites who dominated Texas's population for generations are growing older and more dependent on the earning power and taxes of younger Hispanics, now poised to take over as the state's largest demographic group.

"Texas has two distinct populations now, and each of these groups is dependent on the other," Murdock said. "The older Anglo generation that's dying off has a big stake in the younger Hispanic population, which has to pay for the roads, fire protection and medical services the older generation needs."

One concern with the demographic swing: Hispanics tend to earn less and are less educated than non-Hispanic whites, said Lloyd Potter, the state's official demographer who heads a data center at the University of Texas at San Antonio. That lower education level means fewer job skills, Potter said. "Education is synonymous with income."

"By 2040, 30 percent of Texas households will have less than a high-school education," if nothing is done to boost the graduation rates of Hispanics, Murdock said. Projecting that into earning potential, the state's average household income in 2040 will be $6,500 smaller than in 2000, he said.

"Graying baby boomers need to realize that it's in their self-interest to invest in education to teach the necessary skills to these young Hispanics, so they can get better-paying jobs and we can then tax the daylights out of them to support ourselves," said Stephen Klineberg, a Rice sociologist.