Immigration Increases Income Inequality

[nanook12]

Don't take my word for it listen to this Harvard professor.

Immigration causes a redistribution of wealth on the order of half a trillion dollars from the people who compete with immigrants to those who use immigrant labor.

I think it is absolutely hilarious and ironic that progressives hate income inequality but love immigrants both legal and illegal.

[I Push Buttons]

I think it is absolutely hilarious and ironic that progressives hate income inequality but love immigrants both legal and illegal.

What do you think has a bigger negative impact on the economy:

- Americans competing with a few million legal immigrant workers, who work under the same laws and requirements as said Americans, albeit at lower wages (still, at least at minimum wage).

- Americans competing with three billion workers in Asia via free trade who work for literal pennies on the dollar what said Americans work for.

[PC2]

Incentivize migration of people coming in who have higher than average levels of skills, education, or wealth. You stop mass migration of people who dont have a statistically compelling case for why they would perform better than people born internally. Our legal system is good at that, the illegal side is not.

[Theodarzna]

Immigration is very beloved by people who hire maids, but not so much by people who work as maids.

[Bollocks]

Using borjas in 2016.LUL

[sillystrang]

i like the 4 i words in the title op. say it fast five times.

[Deleted]

Wait wait wait... Let me get this straight. Immigrants are causing overcompetiton in some fields due to their cheap labour in comparison to the average American, and America loses half a trillion because of that? I don't exactly get it. Companies hire the guy who wants to work for less money than the other guy for the same amount of work and somehow that's bad? That would increase the capital gains of the company in comparison to the capital gains of hiring an american at a higher price. Which means they can hire more people or expand their operations. Who exactly is losing money here? The americans who won't work for the salary of the immigrant? Why is it the immigrant's fault? Why isn't it the company that hires cheap immigrant labour that's to blame? Am i misunderstanding something here?

[nanook12]

What do you think has a bigger negative impact on the economy:

- Americans competing with a few million legal immigrant workers, who work under the same laws and requirements as said Americans, albeit at lower wages (still, at least at minimum wage).

- Americans competing with three billion workers in Asia via free trade who work for literal pennies on the dollar what said Americans work for.

Both are problems that need addressed. This is not a matter or priority.

- - - Updated - - -

Wait wait wait... Let me get this straight. Immigrants are causing overcompetiton in some fields due to their cheap labour in comparison to the average American, and America loses half a trillion because of that? I don't exactly get it. Companies hire the guy who wants to work for less money than the other guy for the same amount of work and somehow that's bad? That would increase the capital gains of the company in comparison to the capital gains of hiring an american at a higher price. Which means they can hire more people or expand their operations. Who exactly is losing money here? The americans who won't work for the salary of the immigrant? Why is it the immigrant's fault? Why isn't it the company that hires cheap immigrant labour that's to blame? Am i misunderstanding something here?

Here is the whole thing.

[Ghostmcghosty]

What do you think has a bigger negative impact on the economy:

- Americans competing with a few million legal immigrant workers, who work under the same laws and requirements as said Americans, albeit at lower wages (still, at least at minimum wage).

- Americans competing with three billion workers in Asia via free trade who work for literal pennies on the dollar what said Americans work for.

So you can only choose one? Like...you can't be against outsourcing of labor and against illegal immigration?

Having said that. Regardless of the cost, I am 100% for legal immigration.

[nanook12]

So you can only choose one? Like...you can't be against outsourcing of labor and against illegal immigration?

Having said that. Regardless of the cost, I am 100% for legal immigration.

Sadly our legal immigration system is inadequate also. As long as you have family here our immigration system will let you in even if you are a high school drop and and bring nothing to improve the ecomony.

[Ghostmcghosty]

Sadly our legal immigration system is inadequate also. As long as you have family here our immigration system will let you in even if you are a high school drop and and bring nothing to improve the ecomony.

Adding to this I want to share my story. Only because everyone seems to think that onlu "cis" white American males could possibly be anti-illegal immigration.


My mother and dad are not citizens. Dad is dead, but mom is still being scammed by a lawyer. 15 years and $15,000 and the New York lawyer has made no progress on her legal status.

Issue #1: Everyone preys on illegals. The system is really fucked and there is no oversight to these predators and it is so complicated that you often need a lawyer to file the paperwork and get things right. Her criminal record is spotty, but no felonies. And during the time when I was put as her sponsor, she was clear of any charges. Yet still, this laywer is screwing her.

Having said that, If my mother was deported, I would understand. She has been on the state for a while now and her life really isn't very good. I wish I could help her, but as we speak I am behind on all my bills for this month due to car issues. When I am able to help financially, I will.

Issue#2: I am bringing over a fiance and my son from abroad. Legally. She isn't very educated I admit, but I am making plans to get her up to speed school wise and getting her a U.S. GED since her home nations schooling is trash. As her sponsor, i have to promise to pay for her if she becomes a warden of the state so there is no risk to the taxpayers.


So I have two people I am very close too who are dealing with American immigration. Even with that, i see no justifiable reason for a person to run over here legally and get amnesty. That fucks over everyone trying to navigate the system and going through all that hardship and fees. The last thing you should do is tell them "Tough luck. Shoulda hopped the fence loser."

What we need to do is boot out all the illegals (shit even my mom. I'm no hypocrite) and then fix the immigration process so people can come here legally.

Now, that doesn't mean everyone should. If you are American and want to live and work abroad, you need to show that you have a skill that the country is having issues filling. Otherwise get married or a few other routes. If I am a highschool dropout, I will not ever be allowed citizenship in England or Canada. I would just be a burden to them or take away jobs from their people. This is something American's need to understand. No other country has an open border and just allows everyone to come over and apply for jobs and aid.

It's a jacked up system, but the solution is not to just allow people in. The solution is to fix the legal route to citizenship. And once that is done, if you still do not qualify cause you bring no benefit to the country, that is 100% fine and working as intended.

[bladeXcrasher]

The most hilarious part about our naturalization process is that I don't think most natural born citizens could pass the test. It's the most ridiculous bunch of crap.

[Zomis]

The most hilarious part about our naturalization process is that I don't think most natural born citizens could pass the test. It's the most ridiculous bunch of crap.

No, it's not crap, it means our schools are crap and should be fixed.

[Bollocks]

Both are problems that need addressed. This is not a matter or priority.

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Here is the whole thing.

Dude you are using Borjas.
He has been refuted both times. Once during a peer review and other time by Ottavian.

[May90]

Maybe you should clarify who you mean by "progressives", otherwise your post makes very little sense.

Also, a person can support immigration, while realizing that immigration has downsides to it. Ever thought of that, hmm?

Finally, one Harvard professor is hardly a one-for-all source, given that economists have been arguing about this for decades, and there is still no consensus.

[Bollocks]

Maybe you should clarify who you mean by "progressives", otherwise your post makes very little sense.

Also, a person can support immigration, while realizing that immigration has downsides to it. Ever thought of that, hmm?

Finally, one Harvard professor is hardly a one-for-all source, given that economists have been arguing about this for decades, and there is still no consensus.

There is, Borjas is just acting as a butthurt.

[May90]

There is, Borjas is just acting as a butthurt.

I think all economists agree that whether immigration impacts wealth inequality negatively depends on how immigration is implemented. There is no consensus on the best immigration policy though.

[Bollocks]

I think all economists agree that whether immigration impacts wealth inequality negatively depends on how immigration is implemented. There is no consensus on the best immigration policy though.

That is true, but the claim that under the current system immigration damages the economy, there is almost a consensus to it.

Borjas just did boatlift studying 3600 towns, which is still pending peer review.

[May90]

That is true, but the claim that under the current system immigration damages the economy, there is almost a consensus to it.

Borjas just did boatlift studying 3600 towns, which is still pending peer review.

I'm not sure about it, honestly. Does the current US immigration program affect wealth inequality, and if so, how does it affect it? I've never seen any studies on this.

I would expect it to not have a direct effect, since immigrants here have pretty much the same rights and are able to take the same jobs as "native" citizens.

[Sunseeker]

Well yeah, but that's not the fault of immigration. That's the fault of our capitalist race-to-the-bottom system that encourages paying people pennies while all the wealth pools at the top. So if Bob costs 5 dollars and makes 10 dollars for the company, that's 5 dollars of profit. But is Illegal Immigrant Man costs 1 dollar and makes 9 dollars for the company, that's 8 dollars for the top. So yes, wealth inequality has increased.

Is it the illegal's fault they're willing to work for less? No. It's the fault of companies who hire illegals, outsource workers and undermine the American economy in a drive for short-term profits over long-term social responsibility, economic sustainability and national loyalty. These companies are anti-american, and should be treated as enemies of the state.