5 ms·

> Don't like US immigration? Good, don't emigrate to the US. Once enough people do this that it starts to affect the US GDP I'm sure there will be some change.

> Don't like US immigration? Good, don't emigrate to the US. Once enough people do this that it starts to affect the US GDP I'm sure there will be some change. Less immigrants would negatively affect the GDP? I've heard the opposite many times, but I'm not an economist. Why is that so?

seldo 14y ago
I wrote a long, long blog post about why: http://seldo.com/weblog/2012/11/29/why_all_americans_should_be_in_favor_of_immigration_reform http://seldo.com/weblog/2012/11/29/why_all_americans_should_... But the TLDR is: immigration brings skilled workers into the country, who produce more than they consume, raising GDP. So stopping the flow of immigrants causes GDP growth to slow.
- tellarin 14y ago
  Not only skilled workers, but also unskilled workers that are actually economically needed. Both because there is a lack of workforce in some areas (farms, low-end services) and because, in some countries where inequality is higher, part of the population feels these jobs are "bellow them" but somebody still needs to do them. And last, even illegal immigrants contribute to move the economy. Everybody has to pay some level of taxes (even if only sales taxes) and has to consume goods. And illegals usually will try to "hide" and not use as much of public services. I'm not advocating in favor of illegal immigrants. However, in my view, this is one of the main hypocritical reasons people in power complain about illegal immigration and, at the same time, don't do much to stop it nor to legalize those immigrants.
jacquesm 14y ago
Because immigrants represent work potential, realizing that potential will increase the GDP. More people -> higher GDP. I really dislike quoting the Bush administration on anything but here it goes: http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/cea/cea_immigration_062007.html http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/cea/cea_immigrati...
nandemo 14y ago
Where did you hear the opposite? An increase in the number of low-skilled immigrants might negatively affect GDP per capita, but it's hard to see how it would negatively affect total GDP.
lbarrow 14y ago
There's no realistic situation in which having another person working in a country decreases its GDP. GDP is simply the sum of all goods and services after net exports and investments. Given that a working person is, by definition, producing a good or service, their contribution to GDP is always positive.
- ajg1977 14y ago
  Not always true - see Wall St circa 2008.

seldo 14y ago

I wrote a long, long blog post about why: http://seldo.com/weblog/2012/11/29/why_all_americans_should_be_in_favor_of_immigration_reform http://seldo.com/weblog/2012/11/29/why_all_americans_should_... But the TLDR is: immigration brings skilled workers into the country, who produce more than they consume, raising GDP. So stopping the flow of immigrants causes GDP growth to slow.

tellarin 14y ago
Not only skilled workers, but also unskilled workers that are actually economically needed. Both because there is a lack of workforce in some areas (farms, low-end services) and because, in some countries where inequality is higher, part of the population feels these jobs are "bellow them" but somebody still needs to do them. And last, even illegal immigrants contribute to move the economy. Everybody has to pay some level of taxes (even if only sales taxes) and has to consume goods. And illegals usually will try to "hide" and not use as much of public services. I'm not advocating in favor of illegal immigrants. However, in my view, this is one of the main hypocritical reasons people in power complain about illegal immigration and, at the same time, don't do much to stop it nor to legalize those immigrants.

jacquesm 14y ago

Because immigrants represent work potential, realizing that potential will increase the GDP. More people -> higher GDP. I really dislike quoting the Bush administration on anything but here it goes: http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/cea/cea_immigration_062007.html http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/cea/cea_immigrati...

nandemo 14y ago

Where did you hear the opposite? An increase in the number of low-skilled immigrants might negatively affect GDP per capita, but it's hard to see how it would negatively affect total GDP.

lbarrow 14y ago

There's no realistic situation in which having another person working in a country decreases its GDP. GDP is simply the sum of all goods and services after net exports and investments. Given that a working person is, by definition, producing a good or service, their contribution to GDP is always positive.

ajg1977 14y ago
Not always true - see Wall St circa 2008.