How a large influx of immigrants boost the economy

[Loppan Torkel]

Even low-skilled asylum seekers do it.

This isn't a about general benefits or issues of immigration, just to be clear. I'm trying to get some sort of handle on the effect it has on the economy in a nation such as Sweden, which is increasing it's population about 100 000 people a year, overwhelmingly due to immigration from war torn nations.

This, below, is what I'm wondering about -

Looking at the housing market alone in Sweden, it seems reasonable to expect a bubble. However, with a continuance of high immigration the coming years, houses not being built close to what's needed, coupled with low interest rates for a foreseeable future and a state who earns a decent amount of money when someone sells with a profit, prices could continue to rise indefinitely.

People see their money grow with the increasing value of their houses as long as we keep the pressure up on the housing market. People will get a sense of wealth due to their house's increased value and spend more on stuff. The state will get extra tax income when people sell with profit. Everyone is happy.

Yes? Does it make sense? Are there any faults in above argument?

 

[classical_hero]

No.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/aussie-jihadists-were-on-the-dole/story-fni0cx12-1227233046278?sv=44dcf0ac4a9a4910ef54251c6440b3db

Basically the majority of the "Aussies" that went to fight for ISIS were on the dole and the majority of assylum seekers after 5 years are still on the dole.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

No.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/aussie-jihadists-were-on-the-dole/story-fni0cx12-1227233046278?sv=44dcf0ac4a9a4910ef54251c6440b3db

Basically the majority of the "Aussies" that went to fight for ISIS were on the dole and the majority of assylum seekers after 5 years are still on the dole.

I think this may be a different issue. One that I'm sure the Swedish government has prepared for a long time ago and is on top of. I'm more interested in the boost the economy gets by increasing the population.

 

[gay_Aleks]

But you'll lose cash cuz all that immigrants do is steal money from the government and commit crimes.
Right?

 

[Loppan Torkel]

But you'll lose cash cuz all that immigrants do is steal money from the government and commit crimes.
Right?

You're a xenophobe.

 

[FriendlyFire]

No.
Basically the majority of the "Aussies" that went to fight for ISIS were on the dole and the majority of assylum seekers after 5 years are still on the dole.

The Majority of immigrants result in a net profit within the first generation. Those that integrate, educate and work hard.

Dont worry with Liberals in power, Australian going to Syria are on a one way trip.
With no way to get back, they are going to be stuck in the Middle East, they will be gaoled immediately on terrorism charges if they make it back to Australia anyways.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said he was able to cancel the visas of permanent residents suspected of fighting overseas

Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek described returning Australian fighters as a “very serious risk’’, and says she supports government efforts to stop the threat.

 

[gay_Aleks]

You're a xenophobe.

No, I just saved time for the actual xenophobes, by making that argument before them.
That doesn't make me xenophobe, just a guy who is sarcastic even in situations not requiring that.

 

[EgonSpengler]

I don't have any numbers handy, but iirc, a lot of low-skill, low-wage, but nevertheless important jobs here in the US are done by immigrants. Agriculture, cleaning, etc. Affordable housing is a huge concern, a question that nobody seems to have an answer for.

btw, Google says Australia has a population of ~23 million and a GDP of 1.5 trillion USD. A hundred d-bags on the dole isn't even a rounding error in that economy.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

No, I just saved time for the actual xenophobes, by making that argument before them.
That doesn't make me xenophobe, just a guy who is sarcastic even in situations not requiring that.

I got that. Although, I explicitly stated in the OP that this isn't about pros and cons about immigration in general, there are plenty of other threads for it. It still seems to veer off to ISIS-joining and the low-wage jobs that immigrants do that no one else wants

 

[gay_Aleks]

Unfortunately, that is the image of immigrants that is currently upheld, and until we turn them into people like us that desire better lives in better countries, and not simply lowly troglodytes that must do the jobs that we can't be arsed to do, the debates will remain in this sphere.

 

[Borachio]

I'd say immigration is a good thing. And can boost the economy of a country.

It can also cause strains in the system's infrastructure: housing, health-care, and the like.

The ability of a country to absorb immigrants and hence experience a boost to its economy depends, I feel, in large measure on the rate of immigration.

Lebanon, for example, has had a massive influx of refugees (who are simply immigrants, when push comes to shove) in a very short time from Syria. I can't see that's its economy has experienced a commensurate boost.

Does it make a difference who the immigrants are? If they're working-age people, without children, and in good health, how could that not give an economy a boost?

On the other hand, is the money they send to their relatives in their countries of origin a significant drain on the financial resources of their hosts?

 

[Raijan]

Immigration is such a big topic, because how much a country benefits from immigration depends on the type of immigrants a country is allowing into the country, as well as its social policies.

The best kind of immigrant is someone who is a skilled labourer (and the skill is in demand), is young and comes from an area that shares your country's values/ideals to some degree. That, or someone who is a businessman that has money to invest. These kinds of qualifications ensure that the immigrant in question is able to find a job and make money, which reduces the country's need to provide them insurance, that they are able to work for at least a decade before retirement, and that the immigrant will be able to obey the laws and not feel alienated.

If a country is going to allow unskilled immigrants, it must reduce its social welfare, otherwise it gets itself into a problem where they have a segment of the population that cannot find a job so they are not contributing anything to society, and are just being an expense.

The USA for the most part handles immigration quite nicely. Social welfare policies there are much smaller compared to other first world countries, so even unskilled labourers have to find any kind of job otherwise they are screwed. Anyhow, the USA does prioritize skilled labour and its cultural policies encourage a melting pot, meaning that immigrants do have to conform to a greater American culture or they are left at a great disadvantage.

When Europe allowed immigration, it was initially planned that they would just be migrant workers to help rebuild Europe and were not intended to stay forever. In essence, Europe committed the same mistake that the USA once committed when it was part of the slave trade and forced many Africans to immigrate. Once slavery was abolished, those African Americans were no longer needed, and you can still see that African Americans are not in the most advantageous situation today.

If you are talking about Sweden, I would say its immigration policies are not the best when it comes to economic profit. Most of who they allow to immigrate include asylum seekers, civilians from war torn countries and people from countries with values much different than Swedish values. In essence, unless these immigrants get an education from Sweden, they cannot do anything other than unskilled labour, which is probably in a short demand there. This means that for the most part, these immigrants receive welfare which is large enough that they do not even have to seek out a job or get an education.

At the same time, Sweden now has many areas that are essentially "ghettos" full of people who have not integrated into Swedish culture. So these immigrants do not feel a need to do anything for the benefit of Sweden, yet have no problem accepting welfare payments.

Sweden can probably reverse its problems by severely reducing its social programs which would encourage those immigrants to look for a job or leave the country.

 

[classical_hero]

Even low-skilled asylum seekers do it.

This isn't a about general benefits or issues of immigration, just to be clear. I'm trying to get some sort of handle on the effect it has on the economy in a nation such as Sweden, which is increasing it's population about 100 000 people a year, overwhelmingly due to immigration from war torn nations.

This, below, is what I'm wondering about -

Looking at the housing market alone in Sweden, it seems reasonable to expect a bubble. However, with a continuance of high immigration the coming years, houses not being built close to what's needed, coupled with low interest rates for a foreseeable future and a state who earns a decent amount of money when someone sells with a profit, prices could continue to rise indefinitely.

People see their money grow with the increasing value of their houses as long as we keep the pressure up on the housing market. People will get a sense of wealth due to their house's increased value and spend more on stuff. The state will get extra tax income when people sell with profit. Everyone is happy.

Yes? Does it make sense? Are there any faults in above argument?

Housing and the economy are two different things we can talk about.

 

[JollyRoger]

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

..what you see over there aren't giants, but windmills, and what seems to be arms are just their sails, that go around in the wind and turn the millstone.

 

[gay_Aleks]

..what you see over there aren't giants, but windmills, and what seems to be arms are just their sails, that go around in the wind and turn the millstone.

But they're Muslim windmills! With their Allahu Ackbar singing in the distance!

 

[Loppan Torkel]

No one has any insights to offer? Am I correct? Is economy this easy?

 

[Domen]

Sweden, which is increasing it's population about 100 000 people a year, overwhelmingly due to immigration from war torn nations.

Is there currently an influx of immigrants from Ukraine to Sweden ???

 

[JollyRoger]

I think that the modern state of Israel shows how a large influx of immigrants can boost the economy.

 

[Domen]

the modern state of Israel shows how a large influx of immigrants can boost the economy.

Or South Africa - the richest of Sub-Saharan countries. Or Australia, Singapore, the USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, etc.