In George Borjas’s ‘We Wanted Workers: Unraveling the Immigration Narrative’, there is much discussion about the lack of benefits that immigrants bring to American society from an economic standpoint. It can be inferred that immigration plays a vital position in the status of the socioeconomic classifications that are presented within the United States. Generally speaking, immigrants who enter the American workforce create a burden for those who are previously there because they make the working class market more competitive and only a small percentage of the native population is at an advantage.
As Borjas argues, the debate over the wage effects of immigration is propelled by ideas that it makes native groups worse off from an economic standpoint. A 10% increase in supply reduces the wage of natives by 3% in the short run. Supplementary calculations reveal that a small surplus entails a large redistribution of wealth. Furthermore, native workers lose 516$ billion, while native firms gain 566$ billion. Obviously, those who command certain business are making the most out of this situation; those who bite the bullet is the working class. As a result of there being a larger quantity of workers to choose from, native working-class markets become more competitive. Business owners find immigrants to be more attractive as employees because their chances of getting more out of them in terms of economic success are higher than that of a native employee. The reason being has to do with an assortment of variables, but the primary being that immigrants can tend to be naïve about American culture. A fresh body and mind that is seeking economic progress will more likely than not be more motivated to make money. In this example, the fresh body and mind would belong to an immigrant; immigration does not make natives wealthier. While it can be inferred that there is a good deal of competition going on at the bottom end of the class order, the upper class is observing and taking notes. Current levels of immigration within the United States generated a 2.1$ trillion increase in gross domestic product. The differing factor in this instance is that 98% of this increase belongs to the immigrants as opposed to the natives. From a logical standpoint, it would make sense for an immigrant to come to the United States because such a place provides substantial economic opportunity. Wage payments to immigrants have estimated just over 2$ trillion dollars, which is a significantly higher income than what they were previously receiving while in their native countries.
Borjas argues that a significant segment of the American population is economically harmed by mass immigration as the country is currently experiencing it, but he further explains how it is a necessary cost that the country will just have to bear because the benefits reaped by others as well as the unquestionable value of increasing cultural pluralism outweigh those negative effects. This thought process generates many different responses. The social status would most likely determine one’s position on this idea. As a native working-class member, an individual would be opposed to such an idea due to the risk that is at hand. As a business owner or member of the upper class, a person would be in favor of immigration due to the benefits that it has the potential to generate. The quantity of peoples within American society who belong to the working class is significantly higher than that of who belong to the upper class. Generally speaking, immigrants who enter the American workforce create a burden for those who are previously there because they make the working class market more competitive and only a small percentage of the native population is at an advantage.
5 replies on “Short Essay #2”
I enjoyed reading this essay and I appreciate all of the evidence and the statistics, but could you site them? Your argument is strong about how immigration doesn’t benefit the economy sufficiently. You drive off the point that there are more low-income workers in the US than upper class and immigrants will only make that imbalance worse, not providing enough benefit to everyone. But what about how impoverished immigrants are willing to take jobs that low-income natives won’t? Aren’t most immigrants hard working and prepared to seek a better life? These are just opposing arguments you could think about. Overall, the essay was well written and the argument was driven well.
I thought your essay was well written and showed that you had a good understanding for Borjas’ points. I thought that in your main body paragraph you brought up a lot of very important points. I agree with the idea that immigrants create a greater factor of competition in the working class and I think this is a very important point when talking about this topic. I think that that this competition doesn’t benefit lower income citizens but what about the higher class citizens responsible for hiring them? The willingness of immigrants to take these low income jobs usually benefits them because it is good cheap labor.
You display a good understanding of the essay topic and provide strong analysis. Your rational and reasoning is strong and what makes your argument convincing is the statistics you add. I thought your use of statistics was unique and beneficial because it is hard evidence that brings your argument home. I think you could strengthen your essay by structuring the essay better and specifically, splitting up the large body paragraph into two paragraphs or more. Also, cleaning up your conclusion and making it more specific would be beneficial. To even make your evidence stronger could be to add direct quotes and integrate them into your sentences. I agree with your side of the essay topic and I think immigration is not beneficial for the majority of the U.S. population because the low income workers who are replaced and hurt by immigrants are a great percentage of the population. What regulations or restrictions should put forth on immigration to make it not a burden?
The duality of interests for America is an interesting dynamic that points to the working class and the business owners against each other due to their mutual desire for economic benefit. It will be interesting to see which viewpoint is more highly represented in the American government in the next 10 years. While this is a highly partisan issue the working class desires will always be placed against the need for cheap labor
This is a well written essay. I like how you use a lot of statistics in the second paragraph to get your point across. I think the essay would be a bit better if you split up the middle paragraph into two and expanded on some of your ideas. Additionally, bringing in a few direct quotes from the text would strengthen your analysis. Lastly, try and tie your conclusion together a bit better, it sounds too similar to your introduction.