Undocumented workers aid economy, study claims
Undocumented workers aid economy, study claims
By Devona Walker
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12
Published: July 8, 2008
A recent study conducted by the Waco, Texas-based Perryman Group shows Oklahoma would lose $1.8 billion in spending and nearly 13,400 jobs if undocumented workers were removed.
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Cost-benefit disconnect
Illegal immigration foes say this analysis is less economic theory than mere eye balling. It does not take the effect undocumented workers have on low-skilled, native-born workers. The Center for Immigration Studies estimates undocumented workers pay about $16 billion per year in various taxes, but they create a tax burden of about $22 billion.
"There is no question that the U.S. economy is significantly larger in size because of immigrations, illegal and otherwise,” said Steven Camarota, the center's director of research. "But that does not in anyway tell us if the native-born population is any better off.”
Immigrants, according to CIS research, have suppressed low-skilled wages by 10 percent in the last two decades.
When looking specifically at men without high school diplomas, that number balloons to about 22 percent. For men with high school diplomas, the effect is about 11 percent.
"Is that really fair? Is that good policy? Is that really what you want? Clearly it's good for the immigrants and in the short-term and for some sectors it's good for business and consumers,” Camarota said, adding those short-term benefits pale in comparison to the burden on taxpayers in the United States.
"The idea that the key to economic success in the U.S. is to dramatically increase the supply of high school dropouts does not make sense. It's problematic. It reduces wages for our own poor. It creates a large cost to our taxpayers. In addition, it retards economic mechanization,” Camarota said.
"You can't just say that all that matters is willing workers and willing employers. There is just so much more to it than that.”
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as far as this study goes: duh! of course undocumented workers aid the economy by spending, still doesn't make it right. like ray said, drug smugglers do the same thing on some level. still wrong.