4 ms·
Immigration of high-skilled labor increases the average skill level of the workforce, and thus, its productivity. If I immigrate and keep you from getting a top
by thurn 15y ago
Immigration of high-skilled labor increases the average skill level of the workforce, and thus, its productivity. If I immigrate and keep you from getting a top-tier job, you'll get a middle-tier job instead, benefiting your new employer. Worker productivity is the foundation of economic growth.
- yummyfajitas 15y agoThis is a silly argument. Immigrants from the low skill tier lower the average skill level of the workforce (in the US), but they are still beneficial [1]. The time a low skill immigrant spends cleaning my bathroom is time I have to devote to my startup. Trade benefits everyone because of the consumer surplus it creates, not due to some nebulous "raising the average" effect. [1] For the sake of argument, I'm assuming purely market forces at work. The welfare state substantially complicates this picture. This article argues immigration overall is a net drain on the US, mainly due to redistributionist policies: http://cis.org/immigrant-welfare-use-2011 http://cis.org/immigrant-welfare-use-2011