The Economist Ponders: Could It Be That Enforcing Our Immigration Laws Has Actually Increased Americans' Wages?

Answer: Yes, of course it has.

The Economist -- which is liberal on all matters except trade and immigration, on which it is radical libertarian/transnationalist -- can't avoid noting that there seems to be some connection before flitting back to their preferred answer that We Need to Build Bridges Not Walls.

Immigration to America is down. Wages are up

Are the two related?

It's raining.

I'm wet.

Are the two related?

This is The Economist, folks. The Economist wants to know if supply and demand are related in some fashion.

In both 2018 and 2019 nominal wages rose by more than 3%, the fastest growth since before the recession a decade ago. Americans at the bottom of the labour market are doing especially well. In the past year the wages of those without a high-school diploma have risen by nearly 10%. Intriguingly, this has come as America has turned considerably less friendly to immigrants, who are assumed by many to steal jobs from natives and lower the wages of less-educated folk. The two phenomena may be connected--but only for a while.

"May" be connected -- "but only for a while." That is, because it's hard to argue against the plain fact that border enforcement is resulting in a wage bloom for Americans, they move into Politically Motivated Fortune Telling to claim, But eventually this will all result in disaster.

Here's the problem: They already predicted disaster. The trade war with China was already supposed to have destroyed the economy. Border enforcement and deportations were already supposed to have devastated multiple industries, including agriculture, and left Americans scrambling for basic food staples.

Those prophecies of doom were untrue (and politically motivated when offered).

But don't worry -- The Economist has fresh prophecies of doom, plucked fresh off the vine.

The Lord Our God didn't call me back home this year, my friends, but only because you contributed so much to my Church of Social Justice.

But he's threatening to take me from you next year -- unless you give until it hurts.

posted by Ace at 04:57 PM

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