Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Immigration Policy Reform For A Stronger Economy, Pia M. Orrenius, Madeline Zavodny

Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center Research

The US economy grows as a result of higher labor force growth and productivity growth. Immigration is related to both of these drivers. Immigration accounts for about half of US workforce growth. This reliance is only set to increase as the baby boomer generation retires between now and 2030. As a result, immigrants and their children are expected to make up essentially all of the growth in the working-age population between 2015 and 2035.1 Immigration is also linked to productivity growth, in part via activities such as innovation and entrepreneurism, and hence less immigration could be a drag not only …