Answers Quote by Milton Friedman
“What's the difference? How can people be so inconsistent? Why is it that free immigration was a good thing before 1914 and free immigration is a bad thing today? Well, there is a sense in which that answer is right. There's a sense in which free immigration, in the same sense as we had it before 1914 is not possible today. Why not?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Economic Freedom and Immigration, 1975
Immigration policies shift over time; what was feasible before 1914 is not today due to changed economic and social contexts.
In simple terms: Immigration context changes.
Key Takeaway
Adapt policies to current realities.
Themes
economics
immigration
policy
history
consistency
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
policy
economic
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- public debate
- academic research
- legislative drafting
Key Concepts
labor markets
demographic shifts
globalization
political climate
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern factors make past immigration models unsuitable?
- How can policy balance freedom with societal capacity?
A Different Perspective
Historical comparisons can oversimplify complex causes.
