By Sherry Guan Jiaqi Ju

Econ 490-01

General backgroundCountries comparisonAge DistributionPublic opinionEconomists’ opinionEconomic benefitsNegative concerns

Sources of Immigration: majority of the immigrants from Europe, but now, large percentage of immigrants from Asia, central America

Causes of immigration: Difference in real wagesGrowth rate of populationDegree of industrialization and urbanizationThe volume of previous immigrants from the

same areaEconomic and political conditions in U.S

Concentrated in California, New York , Hawaii and Massachusetts

About three of every five Immigrants in 2008 were limited English proficient

Less likely to participate in the civilian labor force

About half of adults had a bachelor’s degree or higher

Worked in management , business, finance, sciences , engineering and IT

Similar poverty level as U.S natives

Heavily concentrated in California, Texas, and Florida

One in five immigrants resided in Los Angles Metropolitan Area

2/3 of immigrants in 2009 were limited English proficient

Participate in the civilian labor force

Worked in construction, extraction, and repair services

1/5 immigrants lived in poverty

Central America

Age Distribution

Unemployment Rate

Positive attitude toward groups that have been visible for a century or more

Negative attitude toward recent arrivalsAfter Sept. 11, 55% of American favored

decreasing legal immigrationIn 2006, 68% of Americans think U.S.

immigration levels are too highIncrease the level of unemployment

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org)

Senior economist at Santa Monica-based RAND Corporation, and lead author of the United States National Research Councils

“Immigrants contribute as much as $ 10 billion to the U.S. economy each year.”

Immigrants, including illegal immigrants, are benefited to the

U.S. economy

Positive for the U.S. economyNet economic gain due to an increase in pay

for higher-skilled workers, lower prices for goods and services

More efficiency and lower wages for some owners of capital

Specialize in activitiesImmigrant workers are not taking jobs form

domestic workersImmigrants mostly do jobs American do not

want

Dr. PapademetriouPresident of the Migration Policy Instit

ute

Contribution to GDP, both legal and illegal immigrants

Expand the size of labor marketExpand the size of markets for various goods which lead to lower ATC

Increase the average standard of living by increase spending

Taxes benefit

Negative attitude on illegal immigrantsSecurity concern

Increase crimeIncrease terrorism threats

Encouraging the culture of illegalityRemittances, both illegal and legal

immigrants

A study by the national dairy industry confirmed the essential role of immigrant labor in that sector. A loss of just 50 % of immigrant dairy workers would lower dairy farm sales by $6.7 billion and reduce total economic output by $11.2 billion.

Illegal ImmigrantsCosts and Benefits