Migration to The United States

1. Migration to The United States By Sherry Guan Jiaqi Ju Econ 490-01

2. Key Points • General background • Countries comparison • Age Distribution • Public opinion • Economists’ opinion • Economic benefits • Negative concerns

3. General Background • Sources of Immigration: majority of the immigrants from Europe, but now, large percentage of immigrants from Asia, central America • Causes of immigration: • Difference in real wages • Growth rate of population • Degree of industrialization and urbanization • The volume of previous immigrants from the same area • Economic and political conditions in U.S

4. Asia v.s. Central America Asia n Countries Central America • Concentrated in California, New York , Hawaii and Massachusetts • About three of every five Immigrants in 2008 were limited English proficient • Less likely to participate in the civilian labor force • About half of adults had a bachelor’s degree or higher • Worked in management , business, finance, sciences , engineering and IT • Similar poverty level as U.S natives • Heavily concentrated in California, Texas, and Florida • One in five immigrants resided in Los Angles Metropolitan Area • 2/3 of immigrants in 2009 were limited English proficient • Participate in the civilian labor force • Worked in construction, extraction, and repair services • 1/5 immigrants lived in poverty

5. Age Distribution

6. Unemployment Rate

7. Public Opinion • Positive attitude toward groups that have been visible for a century or more • Negative attitude toward recent arrivals • After Sept. 11, 55% of American favored decreasing legal immigration • In 2006, 68% of Americans think U.S. immigration levels are too high • Increase the level of unemployment • (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org)

8. James Smith • Senior economist at Santa Monica-based RAND Corporation, and lead author of the United States National Research Councils • “Immigrants contribute as much as $ 10 billion to the U.S. economy each year.” Immigrants, including illegal immigrants, are benefited to the U.S. economy

9. Economists’ Opinion • Positive for the U.S. economy • Net economic gain due to an increase in pay for higher-skilled workers, lower prices for goods and services • More efficiency and lower wages for some owners of capital • Specialize in activities • Immigrant workers are not taking jobs form domestic workers • Immigrants mostly do jobs American do not want

10. Dr. Papademetriou • President of the Migration Policy Institute

11. Economic Benefits • Contribution to GDP, both legal and illegal immigrants • Expand the size of labor market • Expand the size of markets for various goods which lead to lower ATC • Increase the average standard of living by increase spending • Taxes benefit

12. Illegal Immigrant • Negative attitude on illegal immigrants • Security concern • Increase crime • Increase terrorism threats • Encouraging the culture of illegality • Remittances, both illegal and legal immigrants

13. Facts • A study by the national dairy industry confirmed the essential role of immigrant labor in that sector. A loss of just 50 % of immigrant dairy workers would lower dairy farm sales by $6.7 billion and reduce total economic output by $11.2 billion.

14. Illegal Immigrants • Costs and Benefits