IMMIGRATION AND THE ECONOMY: BEYOND THE ZERO‐SUM GAME

Abstract

Many assume the United States has a fixed number of jobs that are there to be “taken.” Such static, zero‐sum thinking is profoundly at odds with reality. Throughout US history, immigration has been closely correlated with economic growth. Immigrants and native‐born Americans play complementary roles in the American economy, rather than directly competing for the same jobs. The Christian church is a transnational community of believers, and the National Association of Evangelicals believes the church should show respect and mercy to immigrants. Christians’ exemplary treatment of immigrants can serve as its moral basis to call for government attitudes and legislation to reflect the same virtues.

Keywords:

• North America
• Christianity
• Immigration
• Public Opinion
• Economics
• Law

Notes

1. This essay served as the basis of a presentation I made on the panel, “Immigration and the Workforce,” October 13, 2010, Washington, DC. The panel was the second in a 3‐panel series on “Immigration Reform: Advancing Human Dignity & Responsibility.” The series was hosted by Nyack College DC Campus, and was sponsored by the Institute for Public Service and Policy Development, the Institute for Global Engagement, the Center for Public Justice, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

2. See, for example, Camarota and Jensenius, Trends in Immigrant and Native Employment.

3. Elmendorf, The Role of Immigrants in the U.S. Labor Market.

4. Kallick, Across the Spectrum.

5. Shierholz, Immigration and Wages.

6. Immigration flows also tend to correlate with the US labor market demand, slowing markedly during the current recession. See Papademetriou et al., Migration and Immigration Two Years After the Financial Collapse.

7. White House Council of Economic Advisors, Immigration’s Economic Impact.

8. Bolin, “The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Immigration,” p. 15.

9. White House Council of Economic Advisors, Immigration’s Economic Impact.

10. Hinojosa‐Ojeda, Raising the Floor for American Workers.

11. Strayhorn, Undocumented Immigrants in Texas.

12. Genesis 1:28

13. National Association of Evangelicals, “Immigration 2009.”