What is the impact of the “Boriswave” immigration policy on the economy, I wonder?
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.KD?locat...
By a better metric I mean something that would even more accurately capture quality of life, healthcare outcomes, social ties, productivity within the home or family that isn’t tied to an income from an employer, etc.
One thing from the Brexit debate that people forget is that both Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage said they favour allowing skilled immigration.
At the time I remember seeing a meme of Captain Cook's ship off the coast of Australia with 'Stop the Boats' stamped beneath it to highlight the hypocrisy.
in other words, its a huge positive impact. unfortunately for the delivery driver, well, hes basically an indentured servant... i have no idea how these guys survive. especially now in 0 degree weather.
i recently started tipping them in the hopes that they don't dekulakize me in some future bolshevik overhaul (that they would be entirely justified to!)
Immigrants from richer western nations are net contributors to budget while those from poor countries are on average a drain. Uk locals land somewhere in between.
Brexit lead to more immigrants from poor countries but I doubt it moves the needle overall
The big change has been that it has shifted the balance from unskilled to skilled immigration. Generally you need money or skills to get a UK residence visa. Brexit removed a huge exemption to that for people from the EU.
Is that really what you got from my post? A brain dead apples and orange comparison?
My comment was in aggregate by origin regardless of profession or skill…
It makes no sense to compare the aggregates in countries of origin rather than in the immigrant populations.
Non EU immigrants tended to be higher skilled or well off because that is the only way they could get a visa. Unskilled immigrants could come in freely if they were from the EU and many did.
Therefore your claim that the EU immigrants contributed more to the economy than the non-EU immigrants who replaced them is false if you assume skilled immigrants make a grater contribution.
I suggest looking at the numbers instead of guessing (incorrectly). I’ll save you some time - it’s on page 4. see also page 57 - comparison to other studies finding the same.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bfd2209e5274...
How much credence do you give it? I'm not an economist, and my general approach to any government's publications (especially in economics) is one of scepticism. Especially if it aligns with the party line (published in 2018, under May, who was very strongly anti-immigration).
Edit: this isn't made by the government but by a university, so scepticism is lessened slightly.
See my other comment for specific criticisms: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46013937
It includes students. They clearly benefit the country by spending lots of money but they do not have income of their own (usually funded by parents) so pay little tax - but the subsidise universities by paying high fees, and inject money into the economy from living expenses on top of that. Fees alone can be many tens of thousands of pounds a year for a STEM subject at a good university (IIRC computer science at Oxford is £60k/year). The definition of overseas students also includes many British citizens, even some of those who have been back long enough to pay UK fees.
It excludes visa fees, NHS charge etc.
A lot of the revenue contribution is estimated.
It says non-EEA immigrants make a much larger contribution then UK natives.
The big expense for non-EEA immigrants is educational expenses because they have children. If those children remain in the UK as adults that is an investment and benefits the country in the long term.
That reflects a fundamental flaw, in that it only looks at direct effects for revenue, not the total economic effect. A skilled worker is of far more value to the economy than just their taxes.
On the other hand they do include "public good" as a cost.
It looks very much like a consultancy company telling the client what they wanted to hear. It was commissioned when Theresa May, who was pro-EU and anti-non-EU-immigrant, was Prime Minister.
Boris said it himself in an interview: the treasury pushed for what has become known as the "Boriswave" because of inflationary wage pressures
https://youtu.be/WlR1JSV45X4?t=1410
I think that interview is actually historically notable: the first example of a western leader saying that immigration was deliberately increased to push down wages