The U.S. has benefited from illegal immigrants, most economists say, though some low-skilled workers have been hurt.Posted on 05/01/2006 8:28:35 AM PDT by blueberry12
The U.S. has benefited from illegal immigrants, most economists say, though some low-skilled workers have been hurt.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - In the heated debate over the impact of illegal immigration on the U.S. economy, Andrew Sum is one of those focusing on the negative.
The economist - the director of labor market studies at Northeastern University in Boston - argues that the large supply of immigrants has displaced low-skilled U.S.-born workers, particularly the young and the poor, from jobs.
"About 85.5 of every 100 new workers are new immigrants in this decade," he said. "At no time in the last 60 years have we come close to this. They're really displacing young workers at a very high rate."
But even Sum would concede that the U.S. economy is larger, and growing faster, due to the supply of illegal immigrants, and that most Americans with higher job skills are better off for their presence.
"Without the immigrants, we would have a decline in labor force of 3 to 4 percent," he said. "We couldn't have grown nearly as much as we did in the '90s if we didn't have immigrants. And in the last few years our growth would have been slower. The only thing I've argued is that we've ignored that illegal immigration has put a lot of young adults into economic jeopardy."
Sum's views point out the dichotomy that many economists see when looking at the impact of immigration on the economy.
Few economists will argue with the concept that the economy is stronger for the presence of the low-cost labor force.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
False and misleading analogy; I'm talking market forces operating within a legal framework, and you are talking about policy.
I'd call it a nice try though, but that wouldn't be true.
Actually you cleared up your own position, businesses that do good things, build buildings or grow food etc.etc, and hire workers you don't like bad, but if they drill for oil, good.
Do you see your hypocrisy?
"Do you see your hypocrisy?
No.
You are `blowing smoke' today, D-man.
YOU ASKED: "Illegals are the lowest paid workers; that has been well advertised. So, how do they send so much money back to Mexico?"
I answered with a link that explains that wealth can be created, and it is not something that can only be rearranged.
There is an assumption that these workers "steal" the wealth that would otherwise go to American workers. This is not true. THESE WORKERS CREATE WEALTH. And they create an enormous amount of wealth in America. This is the answer.
Everybody else forgive me now. I have to go back to work.
Well IMO you are the expert in that.
I am a pretty good rhetoritician, thanks.
But this is a serious issue, Dane, and you completely ignored the call of my question (as did your compatriot BB12): How do you compare enforcement of our immigration laws with the Democrats blocking our urgent need for new energy sources?
Your position is almost as bizarre as lawbreakers appearing on our streets & demanding protection of our laws.
I answered with a link that explains that wealth can be created, and it is not something that can only be rearranged.
So you answered a question he didn't ask...how convenient.
Everybody else forgive me now. I have to go back to work.
Oh the swirling pool of responses possible to THAT one....
Let me ask you a question. If the station down the street was selling gasoline for a $1 a gallon, would you buy from him if the other stations are selling it for $3 a gallon. JMO, you would and you know it, since their is nothing inherently evil in buying gasoline for your car.
It's the same with businesses such as contractors and farmers, labor is a commodity, and those contractors and farmers are doing good things such as building buildings and growing food, which to 99% of the people is not an inherently evil endeavor.
Our immigration laws are just as mucked as the prohibition of drilling in ANWR.
I am all for a guest worker program, that's lets people who do good things such as grow food or build buildings, get the labor they need, freeing resources to go after the bad guys who want to do harm to us all.
Not allowed? They're required to comply with the law.
They're violating the tax law when they file a fraudelent W-2 with their employer.
They're violating the law by not filing a return if their "W-2" earnings are above $8,200 if single, $400 if self employed (the illegals doing day labor are self employed), or if they receive tips on which FICA hasn't been witheld.
Having violated the immigration laws, they violate the tax laws, that's all. It's not about being "allowed".
Also, on your “productivity” comment. IMO economic concerns shouldn’t be governments prime consideration in setting law, but your suggestion that illegal immigration boosts productivity is flawed.
To a large extent labor is a commodity, from an economic perspective.
Productivity, both through the education of workers and mechanization of labor intensive tasks, is encouraged by higher not lower labor costs.
If blueberry12 is talented enough to follow in Eli Whitney’s footsteps and invent a tomato gin, the success of blueberry12’s tomato gin will be determined by the cost of the labor it displaces.
"guest worker program" "comprehensive immigration reform"
Both are euphemisms for `amnesty'
So we agree to disagree: you want to reward lawbreaking foreign invaders, and I want them deported per our immigration law. If we reward lawlessness here, do you agree that we can expect more waves of invaders?
(Don't p*** down my neck and tell me it's raining.)
PS They're using the term "undocumented workers" on Fox right now.
I know this because we hold a contract (our HOA) with this contractor for services......
Say if all things were equal, IMO, you would go with the $1 a gallon gasoline and you know it.
It's basic economics and you get mad at businesses that practice that.
DUH.
Get back to me when there is a Christian Mexican homicide bomber.
Why not just steal it from them?
What is this "inherently evil" standard you're refering to?
Is there anything "inherently evil" to receiving stolen merchandise? If so, your dopey analogy just fell on its face.
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