Final Project: The Value of Immigrants
Danielle Muhammad
ENG325 Intermediate Composition
Donald Olsen
August 14, 2017 Final Project: The Value of Immigrants
Immigration has, and continues to be, one of the most contentious issues in the United States (U.S.). While some see immigrants as opportunistic thieves, others view them as enormous economy boosters. Immigrants—foreign-born individuals—often have to deal with the negative outcomes of anti-immigrant policies. These exclusionary laws not only increase racial prejudice but also make foreign-born individuals feel less valuable than their native-born counterparts. The laws to some extent also justify the unequal treatment of immigrants (Almeida et al., 2016). Immigrants also
…show more content…
In 2007, 5.9 million individuals worked in immigrant-owned organizations. Almost every state had over a hundred thousand natives employed in immigrant-owned firms with California recording 1.5 million workers (New American Economy, 2016). These firms have created revenues of over $4.8 trillion and provided work for 18.9 million people worldwide in 2014 alone. Researchers have often claimed that were American Fortune 500 companies to make up a country, their revenues would make rank them as the third-highest gross domestic product (GDP) in the world. As consumers, immigrants create jobs by spending their salaries on products and services provided by companies in the U.S. Consequently, this helps in sustaining the jobs of employees in those firms. Also, whenever immigrant workers increase in a particular region, investors build new stores and restaurants, thus increasing job opportunities.
In the past, an increase in the population of immigrants resulted in reduced wages for native-born workers in the U.S. Studies carried out by scholars indicate that a one percent rise in foreign-born individuals led to reduction in the earnings of artisans and unskilled workers (Abramitzky & Boustan, 2016). However, recent studies have shown that the immigrant population brings more value to the native-born worker wage than harm. The foreign-born workers typically possess a variety of skills and levels of
There are many questions arises when it comes to the way different cultures manage everyday life. In the book, The Immigrant Advantage by Claudia Kolker, gives us some explanations on their survival techniques. This book can help some Americans like me; live a healthy, happy and hopeful lifestyle. The Author suggests that some of us Americans can learn a few tips on immigration living. To support her information the author goes on a journey and talks face to face to some of the immigrants that moved to the U.S. with their families. Also she gives some details on her past life experiences that helped her cope with life expectations.
I have read a lot of books on the subject of culture and customs of the country. When I read the book “The Immigrant Advantage” of Claudia Kolker, I understand more about the immigrants’ culture and their lifestyle. Through the book, I found interesting things about all the ideas of immigrants like me. I read each chapter of the book, and in the book I realized there are three very good ideas of marriage, several generations living in the same household, and good neighbors.
When most people think about immigration to the United States, they think of the U.S. as being the “land of opportunity,” where they will be able to make all of their dreams come true. For some people, immigration made their lives richer and more fulfilled. This however, was not always the case. A place that is supposed to be a “Golden Land” (Marcus 116) did not always welcome people with open arms. Even after people became legal citizens of the United States, often times the natural born Americans did not treat the immigrants as equals but rather as outsiders who were beneath them in some way. In some situations, people’s lives were made worse by coming to the “land of opportunity.” Often times people were living no better than they
Immigration has been a burning issue lately, particularly after Donald Trump’s immigration ban in the United States of America. It has been a topic that families discuss every morning with breakfast. Despite many concerns related to immigration, it has several positive benefits that mostly outweighs the negativity. People bizarrely argue when it comes to immigration, but these arguments are primarily based on facts and ideas that are outdated or inconsistent and blindfold the positive aspect related to immigration. Many immigrants in the United States are good workers who don't depend upon any public welfare and mostly help in the overall development of the economy. As a country made by immigrants, we must not forget the fact that immigrants have helped to build cities and create a path of development form Google to iPhones (Gray & Furman, 2012). These facts are secluded, and some related arguments with different content have been repeated for years and continue. Immigrants have a lot to give the United States rather than to take, especially when it comes to economic terms.
Immigration-related discussions could always cause vehement debates and arouse ambivalent feelings among both policy makers and the general public. On the one hand, we appreciate that immigrants contribute to cultural diversity, social vibrancy and economic prosperity; on the other hand, we sometimes could not resist to express our concerns and complaints about how immigrants constantly drive competition in job markets, put strain on public resources, and pose threats to social peace. Although classical economic model predicts with the expansion of labor force caused by increasing immigrants, wages or per capita income will fall and living standards will deteriorate, there might be a subgroup of immigrants who could, in contrast,
The United States of America has the largest foreign-born population in the world. With nearly thirteen percent of the total population being foreign-born, one may find it hard to imagine an immigrant-free country (U.S. Bureau of the Census). Immigration has been an integral part of the United States’ overall success and the country’s economy since it was established and without it, would have never been founded at all. Although there are some negative issues associated with immigration and many native-born Americans believe to be more of a problem than a solution, overall it actually has a positive effect. Immigrants in America, among other things, fill jobs where native-born Americans may not want to work or cannot work, they contribute
Second of all, immigrants increase the employment rate in the US by creating small business and investing in America. According to Harjit Arora in his article, “Internal Migration: Trends and Economic Benefits”, he claims that immigrants can be helpful to replace the aging labor force by increasing the percentage of people that are employed and by creating small businesses (31). World Bank asserts that the percentage of immigrants self-employed in the US is 7.7 percent compared to 5.9 percent for those of the native-born (Arora, 31). In addition, in July 2013, the Executive Office of the President stated that immigrant-owned small businesses increased the assets of the U.S. by not only generate a total of 776 billion dollars, but also by employing
In Claudia Kolker’s book The Immigrant Advantage, she talks about the cultural tradition of arranged marriages brought by South Asian immigrants to the United States. Kolker agrues that arranged marriages are much more effective in finding a spouse than traditional marriages. Kolker believes that this tradition of assistive marriage should be adopted by Americans. Research and studies have shown that “women in arranged marriages rated the highest marital status” (Kolker, 71) compared to couples who have arranged marriages. Arranged marriage is great for individuals who are ready to settle down and start their own life without wasting any time finding a partner. Arranged marriage saves a great amount of time on dating people who are not compatible with your personality or beliefs. As Kolker states, assistive marriage does not just save time in finding a lifelong partner but, it also leads to exceptional happiness between the couple than a traditional marriage reported by couples during studies. Traditions brought by immigrants such as, assistive marriage should be considered by American traditions.
Are illegal immigrants or undocumented immigrants beneficial to America’s economy? Most illegal immigrants have a positive impact on the United States (U.S.) economy. Illegal immigrants have a positive impact on the United States economy because they increase our tax revenue, they add to our social security, and they also increase our employment rates.” In 2000, statistics revealed 8.7 million illegal immigrants resided in the United States” (Knickerbocker pgs.11-12). “A study of illegal immigrants living in Texas showed a 420 million dollar increase in the states economy” (Strayhorn). Companies risk hiring illegal immigrants
Immigration is important for the growth of the economy because it’s a major contributions towards the economy. The United States has often been referred to as a global melting pot due to its assimilation of diverse cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities. Today, this metaphor may be an understatement. Edstam and Carlson an immigration activists reports that, without the extra work and consumption provided by immigrants, the economy of the United States would collapse. They include in the article saying that, despite the common notion that immigrants steal jobs from Americans, the 2005 Economic Report shows that The Federal Reserve in fact recently raised its benchmark interest rate because it observed a strengthening U.S. economy with reduced unemployment, rising wages and some labor shortages Immigrants continue to strengthen local economies through their higher productivity and increased consumption (Edstam and Carlson). An article by Savajlenka added, Studies show that competition with American workers among immigrants is very minimal and limited to the unskilled labor. Therefore, Savajlenka immigration analyst states that, “Numerous studies have documented that immigrants are needed to replace the large number of retiring Baby Boomers and that the future growth of the U.S. workforce will come from immigrants and their children” (Savajlenka). This is an additional like a shot in occupations that presently use several older employees, like janitorial and truck driving
Immigration boosts the economy of America by improving employment, productivity and income. The accessibility of low skilled immigrants, earning low wages, has allowed American firms to expand and to create new jobs, increasing the production of goods and services, while keeping the prices down. In other words, the drudgery of immigrants manifest in the growth of production and extension of services. America is known as a land of opportunity because people from different countries come here to make their ideas a reality. Growing population of United States is directly proportional to the economic growth. Large population means greater domestic market, more workers, more new ideas which improve productivity, more consumption, increased national savings and enormously larger number of outstanding, highly effective people working to improve the nation’s economy. People often argue that immigrant workers
Today, the United States is home to the biggest migrant population on the planet. Despite the fact that Immigrants s adapt rapider in the United States contrasted with created European countries, immigrants policy has turned into a profoundly antagonistic issue in America. While a significant part of the civil argument focuses on social issues, the Economic impacts of immigrants are clear: Economic analysis discovers little support for the view that inflows of outside work have lessened occupations or Americans ' wages. Economic theory prospects and the greater part of academic research affirms that wages are unaffected by immigrants over the long haul and that the financial impacts of immigrants are for the most part positive for natives and for the general economy. Immigrant’s s have dependably been fundamental advantages for the U.S. economy and contribute enormously to the country 's aggregate financial yield and duty income. In the last year, for instance, workers added $1.8 trillion to U.S. total GDP (Kwon, 2013). Business analysts have found that Immigrants s supplement native conceived laborers and increment the way of life for all Americans. Moreover, as buyers in neighborhood groups, Immigrants make interest for private ventures and strengthen the economy. Immigrant’s business people have additionally assumed a critical part in progressing economic development and making organizations.
The world is becoming an increasingly interconnected place and this trend is continuing. As a result, countries are facing new problems that are requiring policy changes in many highly contentious fields. Of major concern are the immigration and citizenship policies of many western nations that are receiving a majority of the immigrants. This is a highly salient issue because people are concerned about the effect immigrant populations will have on voting trends and the jobs that they could take from citizens. Rarely discussed, though of vital importance, is the immense impact that immigrants have on the economy, as they take low paying jobs that the average citizen would scoff at. If these immigrants are willing to take such low paying
Since the start of our country, America has been known as a land of immigrants, a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities working towards the American motto of the land of the free, home of the brave. Since colonial times, immigrants have been an integral part of society, majorly contributing to U.S culture and economy, yet many Americans have always had very conflicting ideas on immigration. Many people look past the benefits immigrants bring to our economy and society and instead scapegoat them for many of the United States’ problems surrounding unemployment and budget. The positive effects of immigrants, both legal and undocumented, in our country far outweighs the negative effects because of their important impact on society and the economic help that American relies on.
Today, the United States is home to the largest immigrant population in the world. Even though immigrants assimilate faster in the United States compared to different developed nations, immigration policy has become an highly controversial topic in the Unite States, while much of the debate is around culture and religion, the effects of immigration on economy is clear. Immigration policy has become a highly pressing issue in America. While much of the debate centers on cultural issues, the economic effects of immigration are clear. Economic analysis finds little to no proof to support that influx of foreign labor have reduced jobs or American wages. Economic theoretical predictions and a bulk of academic research confirms that wages are unaffected by immigration over the long term and the economic effects immigration are mostly positive for natives and for the economy over all.