Immigration - USA vs Canada

[G-spotter]

OTTAWA (CP) - A new study says immigration has tended to lower wages in both Canada and the United States, but it found the impact of immigrants on the wages of domestic workers depends to a large extent on the newcomers' skills.

 

In 2001, about four in 10 people with more than an undergraduate degree were immigrants in Canada compared to about one in five in the United States.

 

That's curtailed the earnings growth of the most-educated Canadians relative to the least-educated, while the opposite has happened in the United States.

 

A significantly higher proportion of immigrants to the United States have been much less skilled so these newcomers have depressed the earnings of low-paid Americans and increased the gap relative to the highest paid.

 

In Canada, immigration has tempered the gap between rich and poor but in the United States, it has exacerbated it.

 

Between 1980 and 2000, immigration increased the male labour force by 13.2 per cent in Canada and 11.1 per cent in the United States, while in Mexico the male workforce shrunk by 14.6 per cent.

[Kat_Roslyn]

It's all those aussies up there.

[G-spotter]

Australians with degrees? In barbecuing maybe?

[counterfeitfake]

Do you think it's because we share a border with Mexico?

[G-spotter]

Or maybe it's because you make it so hard for anyone but illegal immigrants to get in?

[JayB]

The only logical conclusion here is that restrictions that Canada places on unskilled immigrants have had no impact on the skillset distribution amongst those that it chooses to admit.

 

This is like a hospital that only admits healthy people for elective cosmetic surgery comparing its morbidity and mortality stats with a city hospital that has to treat whoever walks in the door. Gag.

[cj001f]

The only logical conclusion here is that restrictions that Canada places on unskilled immigrants have had no impact on the skillset distribution amongst those that it chooses to admit.

 

I was thinking the incentives Canada provided for skilled rich Asians, particularly those wishing to leave Hong Kong pre '98, were probably quite effective.

[Serenity]

Or maybe it's because you make it so hard for anyone but illegal immigrants to get in?

 

Nevermind, it's like debating with a brainwashed monkey on mescaline.

Edited May 26, 2007 by Serenity