Bloomberg Businessweek
Going Behind the Headlines to Examine Immigration
Dec 20, 2023
Hein de Haas, Professor of Sociology, discusses how migration is used as a divisive political tool and debunks misconceptions about migrants. They explore the positive impact of migrants on crime rates and public opinion on immigration. He proposes a national debate on immigration and the need for more legal channels for lower-skilled workers.
16:38
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Migration is primarily driven by economic opportunities, and migrants are often entrepreneurial and community-oriented.
- Public opinion on immigration is more positive than political rhetoric suggests, and the majority of people are open to a more accurate portrayal of the benefits and challenges of migration.
Deep dives
Migration as a Divisive Political Issue
Migration has long been a politically divisive issue, with politicians using it to distract from other problems and position themselves as strong leaders. This scapegoating of migration and the use of inflammatory language has become problematic. However, the actual volume of migration remains relatively small, with only 3% of the world population being migrants. Migration is primarily driven by economic opportunities, not poverty or misery. In the US, for example, labor demand and low unemployment contribute to migration. The idea that migrants take away jobs or negatively impact wages is not supported by research. Migrants are often entrepreneurial and community-oriented, and immigration is associated with lower crime rates.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
