Immigration Policy and Economic Growth

Abstract

The impact of immigration on economic welfare and social stability has been the subject of controversy in the English-speaking world since the sixteenth century. Tudor monarchs, colonial governors, and American presidents have generally supported liberal entry laws on the premise that they spur economic development. This is understandable, as a large and growing economy confers political benefits on its national leaders, both domestically and in foreign affairs. The British Parliament and the American Congress, however, reflecting the mood of a populace typically more concerned with social stability than with aggregate economic growth, have frequently taken a less sanguine view of aliens.