文档介绍：Journal of Economic Literature
JournalVol. XXXII of (EconomicDecember Literature,1994), pp. 1667–1717 Vol. XXXIIBorjas: (December The Economics 1994) of Immigration
The Economics of Immigration
By E J. BORJAS
University of California at San Diego
and National Bureau of Economic Research
I am grateful to Julian Betts, Daniel Hamermesh, James Rauch,
and Stephen Trejo for ments, and to the National Sci-
ence Foundation for research support.
1. Introduction ployment opportunities of natives? Fi-
nally, which immigration policy most
HERE HAS BEEN a resurgence of im- benefits the host country?
Tmigration in the United States and in The policy significance of these ques-
many other countries. The United Na- tions is evident. For example, immi-
tions estimates that over 60 million peo- grants who have high levels of productiv-
ple, or percent of the world’s ity and who adapt rapidly to conditions
population, now reside in a country in the host country’s labor market can
where they were not born (United Na- make a significant contribution to eco-
tions 1989, p. 61). Although most immi- nomic growth. Natives need not be con-
grants choose a “traditional” destination cerned about the possibility that these
(over half typically go to the United immigrants will increase expenditures on
States, Canada, or Australia), many other social assistance programs. Conversely, if
countries are receiving relatively large immigrants lack the skills that employers
immigrant flows. Nearly 11 percent of demand and find it difficult to adapt, im-
the population in France, 17 percent in migration may significantly increase the
Switzerland, and 9 percent in the United costs associated with e mainte-
Kingdom is foreign-born. Even Japan, nance programs as well as exacerbate the
which is thought of as being very homo- ethnic wage differentials already in exist-
geneous and geographically immune to ence in the host country.
immigrants, now reports major prob