On the general question of whether political scientists still talk to economists in this area, yes, we spend a lot of time doing that.
On the question of the cost-benefit analysis of one worker in any given group and their family, that's not something I've done. I imagine the Conference Board has done things along those lines, or at least you could back it out from their estimates.
In terms of how to convince people that this is the case—assuming it is true, which I believe as well—I think it takes people going out and saying this even in places where it might be unpopular. It takes politicians, union leaders, religious leaders, business leaders and basically everybody we turn to when we ask, “What should I think about this? I haven't thought about it today; I haven't thought about it in a month; I haven't thought about it in a year.” All of those people need to be saying the same thing.