Immigration Myths

Immigration is often a contentious public policy issue and there are legitimate hard questions that surround the issue. Unfortunately, all too often, public debate is centered around a few economic misconceptions people have about immigration instead of focusing on the tougher issues. Immigrants are not a drag on the economy, they don’t steal jobs on net, and they don’t systematically depress wages. Alex Tabarrok and I explained that to Lou Dobbs a few years ago and he just called us names rather than making an argument. Here’s a new short video I recently recorded explaining why the above fears are unfounded. 

Let’s have reasoned arguments here rather than name calling... then let’s move on to the tougher issues. See the second half of here for my take on those.

Benjamin Powell is Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute and Director of the Free Market Institute and Professor of Economics in the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration at Texas Tech University. His Independent books include Making Poor Nations Rich and Housing America.
Beacon Posts by Benjamin Powell | Full Biography and Publications
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