The economic and fiscal consequences of immigration: highlights from the National Academies report

Abstract

The National Academies report The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration (Blau and Mackie 2017) summarizes recent trends in immigration numbers and characteristics, summarizes the theory of the impact of immigration on the economy, reaches consensus on central empirical issues, and performs original research on the impact of immigration on federal, state and local budgets. Immigrants are increasingly numerous and educated; increase GDP and GDP growth; have little effect on average native wages and employment; but create both winners and losers among natives. The long-term fiscal impact is positive at the federal level, though negative at the state level due to the costs of educating immigrant children.