This paper presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of the largely ignored issue of the determinants of the educational attainment of adults by immigrant generation. Using Current Population Survey (CPS) data, differences in educational attainment are analyzed by immigrant generation (first, second, and higher order generations), and among the foreign born by country of birth and age at immigration. Second-generation American adults have the highest level of schooling, exceeding that of the foreign born and of the native born with native-born parents.

"Government Insight" is a weekly radio program hosted by IGPA Senior Fellow Rick Winkel. The 3-minute program looks looks at who gets what, when and how in politics and government and features guests from who evaluate and analyze those themes. "Government Insight" airs at 7:55 a.m. on Saturdays on WDWS-AM 1400 in Champaign-Urbana.

Listen to the Sept. 6 program with guest Professor Kent Redfield discussing the amendatory veto of an ethics bill passed by the state legislature.

This study, commissioned by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, describes the impact that the state's colleges and universities have on the people and the economy of Illinois. It calculates the monetary outcomes in terms of increased lifetime earnings - an extra $600,000 to each student earning a bachelor's degree, and a $55 billion gain to all students in one year. It also shows that each year spending by higher education institutions generates nearly $28 billion of economic activity, and 351,000 jobs, in Illinois.

Illinoisans will see changes in the way they work, learn and interact with each in the next decade. In the new world economy, Illinois can sustain its competitiveness in areas such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture and biotechnology, or it can fall behind. Illinois can adapt to changes in demographics, the workforce and technology or not. Illinois can improve the quality of its environment, education, and technology and transportation infrastructures or pay the consequences of failing to do so.