A Really Interesting Story About Immigration
The NY Times Magazine has a long and very interesting story about immigration and economists. The two main stars are George Borjas and David Card, immigrants both (from Cuba and Canada, respectively), who have been wrassling over the economic impact of unskilled immigrants for a long time. A snippet:
Like any form of economic change, immigration causes distress and disruption to some. But America has always thrived on dynamic transformations that produce winners as well as losers. Such transformations stimulate growth. Other societies (like those in Europe) have opted for more controls, on immigration and on labor markets generally. They have more stability and more equality, but less growth and fewer jobs. Economists have highlighted these issues, but they cannot decide them.
Whole thing here.
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Other societies (like those in Europe) have opted for more controls, on immigration...
Really? I don't think so. Many European countries have more liberal immigration policies than the U.S. does.
They have more stability and more equality...
Right.
Meanwhile, 6 million boxes of Florida oranges may go unpicked this season.
Really? I don't think so. Many European countries have more liberal immigration policies than the U.S. does.
Sure thing. We're very liberal in the UK. If you have two arms, two legs and a forehead then you're in. I don't know why anyone would want to move here mind.
I think the French are pretty tight. Suprise surprise....
Hands up who laughed when the French lost on penalties?
Of course, not all efforts to attenuate the harms of those dynamic transformations are pro-stability. If we compare such transformation to two kids play-wrestling in the basement, there is a world of difference between forbidding them to wrestle, and putting mattresses on the floor.
As a matter of fact, putting those mattressed down is actually pro-wrestling, because it allows even more intense fighting, and greatly decreases the chances that someone will demand a complete cessation of the roughhousing.