Problem 1
Which of the following statements are true? Which are false? Explain why the false statements are untrue. a. More immigrants arrive to the United States each year illegally than legally. b. The majority of legal immigrants are men. c. Over half the new legal immigrants to the United States each year are from Mexico. d. Most legal immigrants to the United States gain their legal status through employment-based preferences.
Problem 2
In what respect is the economic decision to move across international borders an investment decision? Why do economic migrants move to some countries but not to others? Cite an example of an explicit cost of moving; an implicit cost of moving. How do distance and age affect the migration decision? How does the presence of a large number of previous movers to a country affect the projected costs and benefits of subsequent movers?
Problem 3
Suppose that the projected lifetime earnings gains from migration exceed the costs of moving. Explain how the decision to move might be reversed when a person considers present value.
Problem 4
How might the output and income gains from immigration shown by the simple immigration model be affected by (a) unemployment in the originating nation, (b) remittances by immigrants to the home country, and \((c)\) backflows of migrants to the home country?
Problem 5
Suppose initially that immigrant labor and native-born labor are complementary resources. Explain how substantial immigration might change the demand for native-born workers, altering their wages. (Review the relevant portion of Chapter 16 if necessary to help answer this question.) Next, suppose that new immigrant labor and previous immigrant labor (not nativeborn) are substitute resources. Explain how substantial immigration of new workers might affect the demand for previous immigrants, altering their wages.
Problem 6
What is a "brain drain" as it relates to international migration? If emigrants are highly educated and received greatly subsidized education in the home country, is there any justification for that country to levy a "brain drain" tax on them? Do you see any problems with this idea?
Problem 8
Why is each of these statements somewhat misleading? (a) "Illegal immigrants take only jobs that no American wants." (b) "Deporting 100,000 illegal immigrants would create 100,000 job openings for Americans."
Problem 9
Why are so many state and local governments greatly concerned about the federal government's allegedly lax enforcement of the immigration laws and congressional proposals to grant legal status (amnesty) to the 11.3 million illegal immigrants in the United States? How might an amnesty program affect the flow of future border crossings?
Problem 10
If someone favors the free movement of labor within the United States, is it inconsistent for that person to also favor restrictions on the international movement of labor? Why or why not?
