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A world of free movement would be $78T richer

economist.com

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Re: A world of free movement would be $78T richer

#11

Post by RcouF1uZ4gsC »

One thing open borders would completely destroy would be the social safety net of many countries. Let’s say there is completely open borders between Sweden and the United States. Sweden has high taxes and an significant social safety net. The United States has low taxes and a non-existent safety net. Over time, people who pay a lot of taxes migrate from Sweden to the United States. People from the United States who are unable to work for whatever reason, migrate to Sweden.

This would also affect government. You either end up with a large underclass that doesn’t have voting rights (see Qatar for example) or else they have voting rights and the laws of the receiving country change to reflect the culture of the immigrants.

Re: A world of free movement would be $78T richer

#12

Post by Dwolb »

This an interesting article because it reframes current immigration discussions from humanitarian issues to economic ones.

I'd like to see more modelling on wage depression to see why this wouldn't have a widespread negative impact.

Additionally this seems like a weird point:

>Unskilled migrants care for babies or the elderly, thus freeing the native-born to do more lucrative work.

If lucrative work were available, wouldn't native-borns already be doing it?

Re: A world of free movement would be $78T richer

#13

Post by mozumder »

Dwolb wrote: post #12

This an interesting article because it reframes current immigration discussions from humanitarian issues to economic ones. I'd like to see more modelling on wage depression to see why this wouldn't have a widespread negative impact. Additionally this seems like a weird point: >Unskilled migrants care for babies or the elderly, thus freeing the native-born to do more lucrative work. If lucrative work were available, w…

How can they if they have to work full time to take care of their babies?

Part of the problem with today's economy is that it's basically impossible for a middle-class woman to have a child and work. There needs to be a large population of unskilled laborers to do these kinds of low-level jobs that a person with a college degree won't do.

This is why data shows areas with a large population of lower-class have a higher fertility rate.

Re: A world of free movement would be $78T richer

#14

Post by sudhirj »

RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #11

One thing open borders would completely destroy would be the social safety net of many countries. Let’s say there is completely open borders between Sweden and the United States. Sweden has high taxes and an significant social safety net. The United States has low taxes and a non-existent safety net. Over time, people who pay a lot of taxes migrate from Sweden to the United States. People from the United States who a…

Taxes would likely change from income taxes to consumption and property taxes, so it’s unlikely that governments will go bankrupt. More attractive areas of the world will cost more to live in, but it would eventually turn into one large country with pockets of exclusive communities.

Re: A world of free movement would be $78T richer

#15

Post by godzillabrennus »

mozumder wrote: post #13
Dwolb wrote: post #12

This an interesting article because it reframes current immigration discussions from humanitarian issues to economic ones. I'd like to see more modelling on wage depression to see why this wouldn't have a widespread negative impact. Additionally this seems like a weird point: >Unskilled migrants care for babies or the elderly, thus freeing the native-born to do more lucrative work. If lucrative work were available, w…

How can they if they have to work full time to take care of their babies? Part of the problem with today's economy is that it's basically impossible for a middle-class woman to have a child and work. There needs to be a large population of unskilled laborers to do these kinds of low-level jobs that a person with a college degree won't do. This is why data shows areas with a large population of lower-class have a high…

That’s why they aren’t having kids and the population is declining.

Re: A world of free movement would be $78T richer

#16

Post by sudhirj »

Dwolb wrote: post #12

This an interesting article because it reframes current immigration discussions from humanitarian issues to economic ones. I'd like to see more modelling on wage depression to see why this wouldn't have a widespread negative impact. Additionally this seems like a weird point: >Unskilled migrants care for babies or the elderly, thus freeing the native-born to do more lucrative work. If lucrative work were available, w…

A lack of good child care options pulls half of all reproductive people out of the workforce.

Re: A world of free movement would be $78T richer

#20

Post by oldcynic »

Dwolb wrote: post #12

This an interesting article because it reframes current immigration discussions from humanitarian issues to economic ones. I'd like to see more modelling on wage depression to see why this wouldn't have a widespread negative impact. Additionally this seems like a weird point: >Unskilled migrants care for babies or the elderly, thus freeing the native-born to do more lucrative work. If lucrative work were available, w…

Have you tried getting adequate and affordable child care? Fortunately our kids don't need it any more.

It hugely restricts available options. Either from hours available, lengthy waiting lists or simply finding that after paying childcare work is no longer making economic sense.

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