Wretched Refuse?
The Political Economy of Immigration and Institutions

An empirical investigation into the impact of immigration on institutions and prosperity.

Alex Nowrasteh (Author), Benjamin Powell (Author)

9781108477635, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 December 2020

240 pages
24 x 16 x 3.5 cm, 0.8 kg

'… highly original, and takes a chainsaw to the most intellectually respectable case against immigration … they demolish a big argument against existing levels of immigration, and suggest that most rich countries would benefit from being more open. Mr Biden and his advisers should devour their book.' The Economist

Economic arguments favoring increased immigration restrictions suggest that immigrants undermine the culture, institutions, and productivity of destination countries. But is this actually true? Nowrasteh and Powell systematically analyze cross-country evidence of potential negative effects caused by immigration relating to economic freedom, corruption, culture, and terrorism. They analyze case studies of mass immigration to the United States, Israel, and Jordan. Their evidence does not support the idea that immigration destroys the institutions responsible for prosperity in the modern world. This nonideological volume makes a qualified case for free immigration and the accompanying prosperity.

Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
Part I. State of Debate: 2. An Economic Case for Free Immigration
3. The New Economic Case for Immigration Restrictions
4. Immigration's Impact on Productivity
Part II. Cross-Country Evidence: 5. Immigration's Impact on Economic Institutions
6. Immigration's Impact on Corruption
7. Immigration's Impact on Terrorism
8. Immigration's Impact on Culture
Part III. Case Studies in Mass Immigration: 9. United States
10. Israel
11. Jordan
Part IV. Assessing the New Economic Case for Immigration Restrictions: 12. Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Authors.

Subject Areas: Business studies: general [KJB], Political economy [KCP], Labour economics [KCF], Economics [KC]