October 24, 2024 Dear John, While there is public debate whether immigration represents a net cost or benefit to the U.S. economy, a strong body of research and thinking among economists is quite clear: Immigration, on balance, is a net positive for the economy. Immigrants contribute significantly to overall economic growth by expanding the labor force (immigration has been the major driving force behind U.S. labor force growth over the past 20 years), increasing consumer spending, and driving job creation. While discussions about fiscal impacts continue, research indicates that at the federal level, immigrants pay more in taxes over time than they receive in government services. There are differences, however, at state and local levels, where costs related to public education and other services can exceed contributions. Our latest explainer, Immigrants and the U.S. Economy, gives a quick, accessible tour of the findings on the impact of immigration on economic and labor force growth, fiscal effects, and whether foreign-born workers take jobs from the U.S. born. Access the explainer here: www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/mpi-immigrants-us-economy-explainer-2024_final.pdf. Also, check out our recent U.S. explainers on immigrants and crime, noncitizens and voting, immigrants and public benefits eligibility and use, and a profile of the U.S. immigrant population. We hope these explainers prove useful. |
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| The Migration Policy Institute is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank in Washington, D.C. dedicated to analysis of the movement of people worldwide. MPI provides analysis, development and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at the local, national and international levels. For more on MPI, please visit www.migrationpolicy.org. |
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