Full Citation

Title: Trump, Trade, and Immigration

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2020

ISBN:

ISSN: 1540-8884

DOI: 10.1515/for-2019-0036

NSFID:

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Abstract: President Trump campaigned on “making America great again” through trade and immigration restrictions. I argue that it is difficult for policymakers to restrict both trade and immigration because of trade’s effects on business support for immigration. When trade is restricted, more low-skill intensive goods are made in the US, leading to more demand for low-skill immigration from businesses. As businesses are relatively powerful, we should expect immigration to open. Conversely, when trade opens, fewer low-skill intensive goods are made in the US, leading to the closure of the firms that produce these goods. This reduces demand for low-skill labor and, with it, the demand for low-skill immigration. As business demand for immigration recedes, policymakers restrict immigration to appease anti-immigrant groups. Using data on immigration and trade in the US, I show that this relationship has held over US history. At the end of the article I hypothesize several reasons why Trump’s tariffs are not leading to more demand for immigration due to their limited effects on trade and the job market.

Url: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/for.2019.17.issue-4/for-2019-0036/for-2019-0036.xml

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Authors: Peters, Margaret E.

Periodical (Full): The Forum

Issue: 4

Volume: 17

Pages: 577-600

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Migration and Immigration, Other

Countries: