Berkeley Planning Journal

Over the next 20 years, two distinct demographic shifts are expected to impact the U. S. population; a sizable elderly population and a large, younger, immigrant population. In his book Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contractfor the Future ofAmerica, Dowell Myers offers a new context for thinking about how these future demographic shifts will impact life in the United States. By using the immigrant influx to fill in the large gaps expected due to Baby-Boomer retirement, Myers argues for a new social contract between the aging population and the younger immigrant population. Through thoughtful public policy, the interests of the Baby Boomers and the foreign-born populations can dovetail to build a better future.