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  • The nation’s more than 18 million Asian Americans are the best-educated, highest-income, and fastest-growing racial group in the nation. What's their secret? Tweet This
  • Our new report on California families shows that strong families are a key factor in the success enjoyed by Asian Americans. Tweet This
Category: Marriage, Race, Family Life, Economic Mobility

From Andrew Yang’s early success in the Democratic race for president (and subsequent ascension to CNN political commentator) to Sundar Pichai’s ascension to the helm of Google, there can be no doubt that Asians are on the rise in America. In fact, the nation’s more than 18 million Asian Americans—who make up about 6% of the U.S. population—are the best-educated, highest-income, and fastest-growing racial group in the nation.

To be sure, Asian Americans are not all the same and have not always had an easy time of it in America. They are a diverse group that track their roots to many countries in Asia, with the three largest Asian groups today being Chinese, Indian, and Filipino Americans. Asian Americans have also faced their share of racial discrimination, from Japanese internments during World War II to a “bamboo ceiling” today that prevents many Asians from being admitted to the college of their choice or being promoted into the C-suite. Yet, despite these barriers, they have achieved remarkable economic success. One recent study found that 36% of Asians are affluent, defined as income that is five times the poverty level or greater, more than any other group.

What is their secret?

Family Matters

Many assume it is education and hard work that account for their extraordinary success in realizing the American Dream, Asians included. But our new report, “State of Contradiction: Progressive Family Culture, Traditional Family Structure,” indicates that a third factor, strong families, is also key to Asian Americans’ success in America.

In our report on California families, for instance, we find that 84% of Asians with children under age 18 in California are married and still in their first marriage. The share of intact families is 70% among whites, 62% for Hispanics, and 43% for blacks. This pattern holds true among the U.S. as a whole. This Asian family advantage remains significant even after we control for education, family income, and other background factors.

Continue reading at The American Mind. . . .