Like the US, Canada is a full employment economy enjoying an economic mini-boom. Unlike the US, Canada understands the importance of immigration to sustain its growth. Its immigration policies target an increase of annual immigration by 30% to 340,000 by 2021. In fact, the government website offers a step-by-step guide to help employers and would-be immigrants apply for entry into the country.
In the US, a key component of the legal immigration system is the issuance of Green Cards, a legal permission slip for foreign nationals to live, study and work in this country. Historically, the government has issued approximately one million Green Cards per year. Meanwhile, about four million stand in line metaphorically speaking to receive one. A Trump policy announced in May, if approved by Congress, would press the reset button, changing the criteria for receiving a Green Card and requiring those currently waiting to reapply. The new criteria would emphasize educational background and skills at the expense of family considerations.
There’s virtually no chance that Congress will approve these proposed changes. But it will no doubt come up often during the Presidential campaign that starts… when? … has it started? Oh, right… It never ended. So, the issue will periodically take all the oxygen out of the room whenever Trump decides to grandstand on the topic.
So, what should serious-minded voters like you and I think about when considering our options?
Let’s start with some basics. The size of the economy, commonly measured by GDP, is largely a function of the number of people working. And, by extension, economic growth is largely a function of the growth in the number of people working. And, immigrants come here to work! A study by the Brookings Institution put some numbers to it. Foreign born men are 3.4% more likely to work than native born men. Foreign born women are less likely but that’s because they’re home having babies. In fact, the Brookings study asserts that ALL net population growth comes from the immigrant population.
Got it? The economy grows when the population grows, and the population grows because of immigration.
Another significant factor in driving growth of the working population is entrepreneurial activity. In other words, new business starts. After all, small businesses create more jobs collectively than big businesses. A recent study by the Harvard Business Review delineates the factors that make immigrants more likely to start them and reports that 27.5% of entrepreneurial businesses are immigrant owned despite only 13% of the population being foreign born.
I’ve seen what legal immigration looks like in S. Florida. Despite initial animosity between newcomers with different customs and behaviors and legacy residents, everything has turned out okay. First and second-generation Americans of Cuban descent have become the economic engine of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metroplex. It’s an economically thriving, culturally vibrant, exciting region that succeeds on its merits.
The net of all this is that, like abortion, immigration ought to be available, safe and legal. Do you think any Republicans — reputedly the party of business — will catch on?
WHO WILL LEAD?
John, I buy your comments and observations about the need to update our immigration policies, but to equate it to legalizing the murder of unborn children...where did that come from? If babies lives weren't terminated, maybe we wouldn't have a worker deficit problem in our country.
ReplyDeleteWe're definitely aligned on the impact of immigration for growing the economy. I certainly think we should be encouraging high-skilled workers to come here and also see how lower skilled workers are willing to do jobs many Americans aren't willing to do, pus the value in reuniting families. I'm not clear on your position on the proposed changes, but would be interested in your thoughts.
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