It is sad to see the immigration debate once again reduced to the numbers game.
Will immigration rise or fall is the
question repeatedly asked of the MPs standing in the general election.
The question is entirely irrelevant and
economically illiterate. Net migration (the difference between those going out
versus those coming in) rises and falls according to the wellbeing or otherwise
of the economy. If the economy is buoyant, then people will come into work.
This is especially important in a country like
the UK, with its rapidly ageing population - the ratio of under 18s to over 65s
is closing all the time.
Equally, if the economy is in recession,
there will not be work available, so people will not be coming into the
country. Indeed, unless it is a world-wide recession they are likely to be
heading out to other places that have the work required.
The numbers game is entirely irrelevant and
has caused untold damage – including helping prepare the ground for Brexit -
over recent years.
It is wholly premised on the idea that
immigration is a bad thing, with migrants having a negative impact. The truth
is the opposite. Migration is a good thing.
Where it can cause damage to the social fabric is if those coming in are
being used to undercut the pay and conditions of the indigenous population – as
long as this is avoided immigration is positive* published in the Independent - 17/11/2019
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