Simple Immigration Economics: Bigger is Better
(Originally aired 6/24/2025) One in five workers in the United States was born in another country. Without them, the country’s prime-age workforce would be shrinking, and thus so would our economy. So the calumny (Terms & Conditions) directed at immigrants is at odds with the basic fact that the U.S. needs them. What about depressing wages? Research finds such a mixed bag of results that the overall effect is about zero. Indeed, if the goal is to save “American jobs” or help American workers, there are a lot more effective ways to spend $185 billion than on a massive crackdown on immigration rules.
Chapters:
00:02:34 Announcements
00:05:55 Retcon
00:10:43 Terms & Conditions
00:12:21 Big Pilcrow
00:43:07 Executive Orders
00:49:12 Spiritual Sponsors
- Donate to Optimist Economy: https://optimisteconomy.com
- Video-curious? Watch the Optimist Economy YouTube channel. We’re also on Instagram at @optimist_economy or TikTok at @optimist_economy.
- Chat with other Optimists on Substack.
- Find utility with our merch: https://merch.ambientinks.com/collections/optimisteconomy
- Got economic questions, concerns, or executive orders? Send them to optimist.economy@gmail.com
More description
(Originally aired 6/24/2025) One in five workers in the United States was born in another country. Without them, the country’s prime-age workforce would be shrinking, and thus so would our economy. So the calumny (Terms & Conditions) directed at immigrants is at odds with the basic fact that the U.S. needs them. What about depressing wages? Research finds such a mixed bag of results that the overall effect is about zero. Indeed, if the goal is to save “American jobs” or help American workers, there are a lot more effective ways to spend $185 billion than on a massive crackdown on immigration rules.
Chapters:
00:02:34 Announcements
00:05:55 Retcon
00:10:43 Terms & Conditions
00:12:21 Big Pilcrow
00:43:07 Executive Orders
00:49:12 Spiritual Sponsors
- Donate to Optimist Economy: https://optimisteconomy.com
- Video-curious? Watch the Optimist Economy YouTube channel. We’re also on Instagram at @optimist_economy or TikTok at @optimist_economy.
- Chat with other Optimists on Substack.
- Find utility with our merch: https://merch.ambientinks.com/collections/optimisteconomy
- Got economic questions, concerns, or executive orders? Send them to optimist.economy@gmail.com
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