Gordon H. Hanson, director of the Center of Pacific Economics, concludes that illegal immigrants do not have a significant impact on the United States economy. Their work contribution to society balances out the expenses for the social services they use. Hanson also explains how measures to stop further illegal immigration would be a pointless strain for the economy due to the sheer number of them already in the United States. He states that “Illegal immigration is a persistent phenomenon in part because it has a strong economic rationale” (Hanson 32). The insufficient availability of low-skilled workers in the United States leaves open job positions that are unlikely to be filled. Most illegal immigrants are not highly specialized in some task so they naturally take up these jobs for money. This benefits both the company at hand and the illegal immigrant.
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Adam Davidson, responsible for the Economy columns in the Times Magazine, claims that overall, illegal immigrants have a positive impact on the economy. The fact that they tend to be unskilled workers allows them to work side-by-side with skilled laborers without jeopardizing anyone’s job (Davidson para. 5). In this sense, the economy is boosted because more progress is being done resulting in a higher profit for companies. Also, small businesses can better afford them because they work for a lower pay. Although they might earn less than the minimum wage, some illegal immigrants take whatever jobs they can to provide for themselves. Furthermore, “immigrants spend most of the money they make” even if it is not up to par with their legal counterparts (Davidson para. 7). The economy is stimulated by these purchases which, in effect, is beneficial to the nation.
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