The Indicator from Planet Money The U.S. once banned Chinese immigrants — and it paid an economic price
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Oct 31, 2024 Nancy Qian, a Northwestern University economics professor, dives into the historical implications of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. She discusses how the law, intended to protect jobs for native-born workers, actually harmed local economies in Western states. Qian reveals that both Chinese immigrants and white workers suffered as towns lost economic vitality. The conversation also highlights the broader lessons of immigration policy today, emphasizing the vital contributions immigrants make to the labor market and the unintended consequences of exclusionary practices.
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Photo Album Surveillance
- The California Historical Society Museum has a photo album from the late 1800s with pictures of Chinese residents.
- It was compiled by a justice of the peace for surveillance, noting names, occupations, and physical attributes.
Impact of Chinese Exclusion
- Lawmakers justified banning Chinese workers by claiming it would benefit native-born workers.
- But an economist questions if that actually happened.
Chinese Immigration Waves
- In 1880, the Chinese were the biggest immigrant group in the Western US, around 20% of all immigrants.
- They arrived in two waves: for the Gold Rush and to build the Transcontinental Railroad.