Full Citation
Title: Increasing the Supply of Labor Through Immigration Measuring the Impact on Native-born Workers
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2004
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Abstract: President Bush and some members of Congress have proposed legalizing illegal aliens and substantially increasing legal immigration. Economic theory predicts that increasing the supply of labor in this way will reduce earnings for natives in competition with immigrants. This study examines the economic impact of increases in the number of immigrant workers by their education level and experience in the work force, using Census data from 1960 through 2000. Statistical analysis shows that when immigration increases the supply of workers in a skill category, the earnings of native-born workers in that same category fall. The negative effect will occur regardless of whether the immigrant workers are legal or illegal, temporary or permanent. Any sizable increase in the number of immigrants will inevitably lower wages for some American workers. Conversely, reducing the supply of labor by strict immigration enforcement and reduced legal immigration would increase the earnings of native workers.
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Authors: Borjas, George J.
Publisher: Minnesotans for Sustainability
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Education, Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Migration and Immigration
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