Migration experts are urging Canadian citizens and their leaders to embrace more open immigration policies as people will continue to mobilize and labour markets will become increasingly competitive.
Geoffrey Cameron and Ian Goldin both work with the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford. They argue that global migration patterns, rather than stabilizing or dropping off over the coming decades will, in fact, increase as a result of many complex factors.
In a recent article for the Globe and Mail, Cameron and Goldin advocate for more open immigration policies, noting that the recent global recession has resulted in a more protectionist shift in public attitude. They argue that closing off immigration would do more harm than good to Canada in the coming years.
They point out that, not only do we need immigrants to counter the effects of low birth rates and aging populations, but also that immigrants are on the whole more innovative and more likely to contribute more to the economy than they receive in benefits. They also argue that migration benefits economies more than trade or foreign aid, which most governments focus on instead.
“Completely opening borders, World Bank economists predict, would produce gains as high as $39-trillion for the world economy over 30+ years,” say the authors. “These numbers compare with the $70-billion that is currently spent every year in overseas development assistance and the estimated gains of $100-billion from fully liberalizing international trade.”
Source: Globe and Mail