Write two essays

1) There are four important factors that cause international migration flows: economic pressures; social networks and connections between migrant sending and receiving countries; immigrant admissions and immigration control policies; and cultural perceptions people in developing countries have about immigration and richer, developed immigrant receiving countries. Indicate which of these you believe is the most important and second most important factors and explain why.

2) You are the newly appointed immigration advisor for the Trump administration. You have been asked to prepare a brief report for the President outlining what type of immigration admissions and control policies he should adopt in order to achieve two objectives: provide the U.S. economy with the immigrant labor it needs and reduce illegal immigration to the U.S. Based on what you have learned in this class, what mix of immigration policies would you recommend and why? Please be aware that this is not an essay question that is asking you to simply critique the current immigration policies of the Trump administration, although you can certainly refer to them.

3) Do the positive economic consequences of immigration outweigh its negative socioeconomic consequences for unskilled immigrants or vice versa? Think not just in terms of the wages immigrants receive, but also the type of jobs they do, the labor they provide, their long-term socioeconomic mobility, and how they are treated/perceived by mainstream American society (you do not have to necessarily focus on all these issues). This question is asking you to weigh the pros and cons of immigration for the immigrants themselves, not for American society.

4) Do you think negative public opinion toward immigrants is justified, for instance, the belief that immigration is bad for the American economy, that illegal immigration is out of control, or that immigrants endanger public safety and increase crime? (it may be useful to briefly refer to the course material on the economics of immigration and immigration policy)

Solution:

1. In my opinion, the most important factor causing international migration flows is economic pressures. This includes factors such as lack of job opportunities, low wages, and lack of access to education and other resources in the migrant’s home country. These economic pressures can push people to leave their home countries in search of better opportunities elsewhere. The second most important factor is social networks and connections between migrant sending and receiving countries. These connections can provide individuals with information about job opportunities, housing, and other resources in their destination country, as well as support and a sense of community once they arrive.
2. In my opinion, the positive economic consequences of immigration outweigh its negative socioeconomic consequences for unskilled immigrants. While unskilled immigrants may face challenges in finding well-paying jobs and may be disadvantaged in the labor market, they also provide important labor to industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality. These industries often have difficulty finding enough domestic workers to meet their needs, and immigration helps to fill this gap. Additionally, immigration can contribute to economic growth by increasing the size of the labor force and consumer base. While there may be negative consequences for some unskilled immigrants, such as low wages and limited upward mobility, the overall economic benefits of immigration outweigh these negative consequences……….