1. Deciding whether to improve their English skills involves cost-benefit analysis for immigrants from non-English speaking countries. If you were forced to learn a foreign language as an adult, what costs and benefits would you consider in deciding how much training you would pursue?

Answers may vary: Costs could include speaking with an accent, difficulty finding time, lower payoff due to shortened income stream, and possible embarrassment over lack of skills. Benefits could include higher income stream, intergenerational benefits, etc.

2. Labor economists discuss the question of educational attainment, and the relationship between education and wages. Using the information in this article, why would an older individual consider going to college less important than someone coming directly out of high school?

The older individual sees fewer benefits and higher costs in college attendance than a high-school graduate. Further, since older individuals presumably make higher wages, their time value of money calculation for further education indicates a higher imputed cost to education.

3. The article summary ends with a statement about the need for immigrant children to receive public education in the U.S. Discuss this with your classmates. What are the costs/benefits of this policy initiative?

Answers may vary. Make sure that students focus on economic benefits in terms of productivity, GDP growth, etc, instead of political or historical arguments.

Multiple Choice/True False Questions