Simple Immigration Economics: Bigger is Better

About this episode

(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.econom