Immigration & Wage Suppression

[unlawflcombatnt]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

You applied the statistic about U.S.-born men to all 135 million employed Americans, most of whom are not U.S.-born men.

Most are U.S. born, however, even if not men. Though there may be some slight difference in the effect on U.S.-born women, and non-U.S. born men, the general idea is the same. It suppresses wages.

The general decline in wages can be seen from the copy below of hourly and weekly real wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hourly wages declined 0.24 % in March. Weekly wages declined 0.27%.



Below are the links to the both weekly and hourly real wages.

BLS-WeeklyWages

BLS-HourlyWages

unlawflcombatnt

[xoxoxoBruce]

Assuming the preliminary numbers are accurate, it went up a little from Jan to Feb and down a little from Feb to Mar. But it went down a little from Feb to Mar for the last 5 years.
As gloomy as I am about of long range economic future, I'm not ready to call a vibration an earthquake just yet.

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by unlawflcombatnt

Most are U.S. born, however, even if not men. Though there may be some slight difference in the effect on U.S.-born women, and non-U.S. born men, the general idea is the same.

Dude, you simply can't do that if you're going to use that as your jumping-off point for all sorts of other conclusions. It's like a physics student who says "now, assume there's no gravity..." and then determines all sorts of things before remembering to add gravity back into the mix.

In economics you can prove *anything* by ignoring the other side of the equation. In this case Griff gave it to you, and he's a smart guy, ignore him at your own peril! What is the effect of illegal immigration on prices my friend?

[9th Engineer]

I think it's also important to look at what demographics are most effected by the wage suppression. It may seem obvious, but immigrant workers themselves most likely are hardest hit. This means that we have a rapidly growing population of people who do not identify themselves primarily as American, who are stuck in a low wage labor sector with very little chance for social mobility. I know it's not the exact same problem France has, but we may see a similar result eventually.

[tw]

Originally Posted by 9th Engineer

This means that we have a rapidly growing population of people who do not identify themselves primarily as American, who are stuck in a low wage labor sector with very little chance for social mobility. I know it's not the exact same problem France has, but we may see a similar result eventually.

And it was called 1910America. Who are the source of a nation's most productive people? Those immigrants "stuck in a low wage labor sector with very little chance for social mobility". 1910 conditions caused what? Immigrants in any country are typically a greatest source of that country's success.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by tw

And it was called 1910America. Who are the source of a nation's most productive people? Those immigrants "stuck in a low wage labor sector with very little chance for social mobility". 1910 conditions caused what? Immigrants in any country are typically a greatest source of that country's success.

That was an entirely different world where we made products, people could improve their skills and invent new ways. Now it's technical and business pencil pushing or service jobs. No apprenticeships or job experience, they want you educated and ready to go at entry level.

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

That was an entirely different world where we made products, people could improve their skills and invent new ways. Now it's technical and business pencil pushing or service jobs. No apprenticeships or job experience, they want you educated and ready to go at entry level.

What made American so productive? Not the first generation immigrants. But we send all those kids to school. We did then what Aericans are now complaining about today as increased costs. Those increased costs back in 1910 created the most productive Americans - second and third generation immigrants.

It was back on 1910 as it is today. Bean counter types complain about how immigrants tax schools and other infrastructure. They see costs where they should be seeing a national investment.

Same as in 1910. First generation immigrants did labor - as we are doing today with so many immigrants who even have college degrees. Those first generation immigrants create the most productive part of a country's future - back then and today.

Meanwhile ask your waiter what his education was. Too often it was advanced education - accounting, computers, one was even a doctor. Anoter speaks five languages. Americans cringe when I do equations or work out an algorithm while sipping coffee. Foreigners get curious and ask questions. We so need their labor that each was working as a waiter. No different from 1910. They are the investment in America's future.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Those early 20th century immigrants made their kids go to school and insisted they learn English. Today the schools are becoming babysitters and in their native language to boot. Fewer and fewer kids are getting a real education now.

TW, you do realize you're not normal, right? Not that there's anything wrong with that.....just asking.