Immigration: Its Economic Impact

Paper Summary:

The paper reveals that whatever the cause for immigration, the fruits of immigrant labor have benefited, and will continue to benefit, the American economy. The paper looks at some of the foreign-born Americans who helped change the U.S. economy. The paper also examines the assertion that the flood of poorly educated, non-English speaking hordes from Mexico, Central and South America drain welfare rolls, healthcare and education facilities and shows how immigrants can cause a financial burden to American taxpayers. The paper concludes, however, that immigration is not so much an ethnic problem, nor a religious, health or educational one; it is an economic issue since we need the immigrants to do the hard and unpleasant tasks American citizens will not do. The paper strongly believes that the debate on immigration should not be concerned with anything other than the economic impact immigrants make on the nation as a whole.

From the Paper:

"We are a nation of immigrants. Except for Native Americans, everything that has built up the United States was created, imagined, built or developed by immigrants or their descendants. Some people may feel differently about Emma Lazarus' inscription on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." The idea of America was to provide a haven, a means of finding equal opportunity, not merely to become wards of the state and spend a lifetime and following generations, living on tax-payer welfare. Even among today's most widely debated immigration activity- illegals crossing over from Mexico- their reason for coming is economic: they want jobs, and often find the kind of jobs most Americans don't want."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Borjas, George: "The Labor Market Implication of High-Skill Immigration" American Economic Review , 2005 Vol. 95, issue 2
• Daniels, Roger: Guarding the Golden Door Hill & Wang (2004)
• Dnn, Ashley, "50 People Who Greatly Influenced Business In the 20TH Century" Los Angeles Times, (1999)
• Isbister, John: Immigration Debate: Remaking America West Hartford CT: Kumarian Press (1996)
• Lieberman, Charles: "Immigrant Assistance" The Economist (USA) March 29, 1997

More papers on Immigration: Its Economic Impact:

• Research Paper # 66770 : "The Socio-Economic Impact of Illegal Immigration"
• Term Paper # 58079 : "Illegal Immigration in Italy"
• Research Paper # 122895 : "Economics of Immigration"

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