Immigration as International Development

A new study showing the income gains for international migrants is spurring debate over a guestworker program.

You may hear more about this study in the days ahead.

It will add velocity to the recurring proposal from some immigration reformers that the U.S. adopt a guestworker program.

But here are some additional considerations that should be kept in mind:

1) The chart underscores the point, familiar from the economic literature, that the largest share of the economic gains from immigration accrue to the immigrants themselves. Which is nice for them, but raises again the question: What's the benefit to the citizens of the host society?

2) In the U.S. context, guestworker programs bump up against a legal constraint: The 14th amendment, which confers citizenship on children born on national territory. Once that happens, they are not guests any more.

3) Theoretically, the US could repeal birthright citizenship. But that would be to invite the growth of a permanent subordinated caste of non-citizen visitors, like the Athenian metics - not exactly a source of social stability.