Studies show that increased immigration is actually good for the economy. http:/...

Nursie · on Aug 5, 2015

>> Studies show that increased immigration is actually good for the economy.

Yes, but I believe the jury is still out on whether it actually benefits the ordinary workers in that economy, or if just benefits business by providing a cheaper workforce.

ikeboy · on Aug 5, 2015

One study I saw suggested that 90% of workers saw improvements.

Edit: see https://www.nber.org/papers/w12497.pdf

Nursie · on Aug 5, 2015

Well, that's certainly interesting.

It does say there seemed to be a small negative effect on the least educated, who are presumably competing for jobs at the low end.

ikeboy · on Aug 5, 2015

Yes, those without a high-school degree saw a small decrease. Although even that may be countered by lower prices, I've seen that argument somewhere.

Nursie · on Aug 5, 2015

Quite likely, there will be a feedback mechanism allowing businesses to produce cheaper products if they have access to a larger (and therefore cheaper) labour pool.

realusername · on Aug 5, 2015

I don't doubt that, it's just I don't believe in opening borders in one go, it would be too brutal and it would do more harm than good but indeed if we open the borders slowly little by little and improve the conditions in other countries in the mean time (to reduce inequality between countries) it could be much better. Otherwise you are going to have 15M Chinese and Indians moving into the same city in just a few months, it would be way too brutal. So maybe one day it will work but for now, there is way too much inequality for this to work.