Gordon Hanson Speaks to Packed Audience About Immigration Debate
Political Economy Days Seminar at Palomar College tackled urgent political issues.
Oct 18, 2007
By Edward Sifuentes, North County Times
SAN MARCOS -- Problems in the Middle East and illegal immigration, two of the country's top hot button topics, were the focus of a seminar at Palomar College on Wednesday that attracted standing-room-only audiences.
History, economics and political perspectives can shed light and help find solutions to some of these pressing concerns, lecturers said. The discussions were part of Political Economy Days, a two-day seminar tackling political concerns ranging from health care to human rights.
The seminar was the brainchild of Loren Lee, an associate professor of economics at Palomar College. Lee said the program, which he coordinated with economics professor Peter Bowman, was also an opportunity for students and the public to learn from some of the region's leading scholars.
Wednesday's half-dozen seminars were filled to capacity, in part because some students were required to participate, but Lee said he was surprised by the students' level of interest during the lectures.
"A lot of people are quite engaged and asking questions," Lee said.
Gordon Hanson, a professor of economics at UC San Diego, said much of the divisiveness caused by the debate over immigration reform can be explained by economics. There are those who benefit from immigration, both legal and illegal, and those who are hurt by it, Hanson said.
Businesses and consumers benefit from illegal immigrants' cheap labor. Taxpayers and lower-skilled workers are hurt by illegal immigrants by the public services they require and by driving down wages for low-skilled jobs.
"I'm not trying to push one view of immigration good or bad," Hanson told the audience. "I'm trying to get you to see that outcomes, in terms of policy, are a result of pressure from two sides. Those who want immigration and those who oppose it."
One student pointed out that American workers are being displaced by illegal immigrants because schools don't offer education in trades, such as construction and electricians. Hanson said there aren't enough American workers to fill the low-skilled jobs produced by the economy.
In 1960, 50 percent of workers did not have a high school diploma compared to 8 percent today, he said. As native workers have left low-paying jobs, immigrant workers have come to replace them, Hanson said.
"Over the last 50 years, U.S. workers have educated themselves out of many low-skilled jobs, such that if you put a listing out saying, 'I want somebody to come pick strawberries,' ... you're not going to get native workers applying for those jobs," Gordon said.
History, economics and political perspectives can shed light and help find solutions to some of these pressing concerns, lecturers said. The discussions were part of Political Economy Days, a two-day seminar tackling political concerns ranging from health care to human rights.
The seminar was the brainchild of Loren Lee, an associate professor of economics at Palomar College. Lee said the program, which he coordinated with economics professor Peter Bowman, was also an opportunity for students and the public to learn from some of the region's leading scholars.
Wednesday's half-dozen seminars were filled to capacity, in part because some students were required to participate, but Lee said he was surprised by the students' level of interest during the lectures.
"A lot of people are quite engaged and asking questions," Lee said.
Gordon Hanson, a professor of economics at UC San Diego, said much of the divisiveness caused by the debate over immigration reform can be explained by economics. There are those who benefit from immigration, both legal and illegal, and those who are hurt by it, Hanson said.
Businesses and consumers benefit from illegal immigrants' cheap labor. Taxpayers and lower-skilled workers are hurt by illegal immigrants by the public services they require and by driving down wages for low-skilled jobs.
"I'm not trying to push one view of immigration good or bad," Hanson told the audience. "I'm trying to get you to see that outcomes, in terms of policy, are a result of pressure from two sides. Those who want immigration and those who oppose it."
One student pointed out that American workers are being displaced by illegal immigrants because schools don't offer education in trades, such as construction and electricians. Hanson said there aren't enough American workers to fill the low-skilled jobs produced by the economy.
In 1960, 50 percent of workers did not have a high school diploma compared to 8 percent today, he said. As native workers have left low-paying jobs, immigrant workers have come to replace them, Hanson said.
"Over the last 50 years, U.S. workers have educated themselves out of many low-skilled jobs, such that if you put a listing out saying, 'I want somebody to come pick strawberries,' ... you're not going to get native workers applying for those jobs," Gordon said.
