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.