Here’s a common question I hear when debating immigration and globalization:
“If the world is becoming so much wealthier due to globalization, then why are so many people from nations with rapid economic growth immigrating to the U.S.? Shouldn’t they stay in their native countries if they are truly developing?”
The answer, I think, is that a rural Chinese peasant with an income of $100 per annum cannot possible afford to move to the United States. But if that peasant’s income rises to $5000 per annum due to accelerating economic growth, he can suddenly afford to move to a place where he can increase his income even further.
How many immigrants do you know from desperately poor places like Sub-Saharan Africa or other places untouched by globalization? Probably not many (if any). But how many do you know from places impacted by globalization like China, India, Brazil, or Mexico? Probably quite a few.
As economic growth picks up, we should expect to see more immigration at first, then to see decreasing rates of immigration as incomes rise beyond a certain threshold. Increasing incomes give people more options, not just for consumption or investment, but also for immigration.
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Immigration descrease eventually? Probably not substantially. Unless we start producing more offspring, we’ll need to keep importing people (a la Europe) just to maintain infrastructure.
I agree but with the economy on an economic downturn, the affect it has on other nations will be devastating. I do not think people will stop migrating to the US. I think living here is more than financial satisfaction, I think it is the place for dreamers. You can be whatever you want. Not all dreams are accessible in other countries.