The Impact of Institutional Barriers and Opportunities Among Latine Youth’s Social and Economic Mobility

Existing research on Latine families and youth often relies on aggregated analyses that overlook historical incorporation, race, ethnicity, phenotype, socioeconomic status, and generation. This review synthesizes literature (2000–2025) to address three questions: (1) How have educational and economic outcomes changed over two decades, particularly among historically marginalized Black and Indigenous Latine populations? (2) What intersectional, macro-level conditions have constrained intergenerational opportunities and mobility? (3) What structural and policy changes are needed to promote sustainable educational and social mobility across youths’ life courses? Recommendations emphasize future research and translating empirical evidence into actionable policies addressing persistent educational and economic inequities.