American Quote by Mark Helprin
“To assert, as some have, that illegal immigrants do not depress wages because they do the jobs Americans refuse is the kind of nonsense economists speak when they strain to be counterintuitive. It is similar to saying that cheap imports do not hold down prices.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Economics of Immigration,” 2005, The Wall Street Journal
Economists sometimes claim illegal immigrants don’t lower wages because they fill jobs Americans avoid, but this reasoning is flawed like saying cheap imports don’t lower prices.
In simple terms: The claim that illegal workers don’t affect wages is a faulty economic argument.
Key Takeaway
Question the economic assumptions about illegal labor.
Themes
economics
labor markets
immigration
public discourse
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
economic
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media commentary
- academic research
Key Concepts
economic theory
labor supply
market equilibrium
Questions to Reflect On
- Do low‑skill jobs truly have no wage impact?
- How can policy address both labor shortages and wage concerns?
A Different Perspective
The argument ignores broader labor market dynamics and potential wage suppression.
