Title: The positive impact of immigration: Places in America that took in more immigrants in the 19th century are richer today because of it — Quartz
Headings: Places in the US that took in more immigrants in the 19th century still benefit economically from it
Places in the US that took in more immigrants in the 19th century still benefit economically from it
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Content: The researchers believe the late 19th and early 20th century immigrants stimulated growth because they were complementary to the needs of local economies at that time. Low-skilled newcomers were supplied labor for industrialization, and higher-skilled arrivals helped spur innovations in agriculture and manufacturing. The data also show that the long-term benefits of immigration did not come at short-term cost to the economy as whole. More immigrants almost immediately led to more vibrant economies. The study has little to say, however, on the short-term impact of immigrants on the wages of natives, a debate that continues to rage today in the US and elsewhere. Of course, the current economic and political circumstances are quite different from the late 19th century, but there are enough similarities to suggest that the benefits of immigration would hold true in the 21st century and beyond. Even if increasing immigration reduces some local workers’ wages in the short-term, the evidence suggests that descendants of these workers would end up better off. 📬 Kick off each morning with coffee and the Daily Brief (BYO coffee). Sign me up
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