Immigrants as future voters

Abstract

Immigration policies in western democracies have often been contrary to the predictions of the mainstream theory of international economics. Political parties that are predicted to adopt policies beneficial for lower-income constituents have not protected workers from labor-market competition. Nor have workers been protected from a fiscal burden of financing incomes and benefits for welfare-dependent immigrants. We explain the contradiction by immigrants being future voters. We give a hearing to alternative interpretations.

Border Games: A Game Theoretic Model of Undocumented Immigration

“…Finally, in recent work, Hillman and Long [17] explore the political ramifications of immigration, particularly in terms of the potential support for allowing more immigrants. They suggest that workers may be inclined to support increased immigration because immigrants' political views may align with theirs.…”