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Planet Money

Do immigrants really take jobs and lower wages?

Jun 29, 2024
25:43
Snipd AI
Exploring the impact of immigrants on the labor market, the podcast discusses the Mariel boat lift in Miami, challenging beliefs on immigration's effect on jobs and wages. It highlights disagreements among economists, including David Card and George Borjas, and concludes with experts affirming immigrants' positive economic contributions.
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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • David Card's Mariel boatlift study showed immigrant influx had minimal impact on Miami's wages and job availability.
  • George Borjas' research contradicted Card's findings, indicating negative wage effects on low-skilled workers post-Mariel boatlift.

Deep dives

The Mariel Boatlift Experiment

The podcast delves into the Mariel boatlift natural experiment that occurred in Miami in 1980, where 125,000 Cuban immigrants suddenly entered the workforce. Despite expectations, economist David Card's research revealed that the influx had virtually no impact on wages or unemployment rates. This unexpected outcome challenged traditional theories of immigration's effects on the labor market and ignited a heated debate among economists.

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