Ludwig von Mises Quotes

The rich world has lots of well-paying jobs and an aging population that cannot fill them. The poor world has desperate workers. But while goods and capital can easily cross borders, modern labor cannot.

People tend to migrate from the third world to the metropolises of the very countries that once dominated them. Algerians to Paris; Puerto Ricans to New York; Pakistanis to London.

Migration powers economic growth, reduces inequalities, and connects diverse societies. Yet it is also a source of political tensions and human tragedies.

What is America? Best brains in the world migrate to the U.S. If there are best brains, they will produce best results.

Immigration is not just compatible with but is a necessary component of economic growth.

It is time we recognised the huge contribution that migration has made to the economic growth of this country.

Turkey has a young and growing population. Until recently, this was perceived as a problem, a burden that Turkey would bring to the E.U. But it is, in fact, an asset that can help the population deficit of the E.U. and the economic growth of Turkey.

The U.S. is excellent at importing cheap products from the rest of the world. Let's try importing some human capital instead.

Put baldly, city officials don’t want migrants stealing local resident’s rice bowls.

There's an overdose of foreigners.

[Referring to Italian immigrants:] What did they come here for? Why do not they go back [to Italy] and stay there?

The intelligence and prosperity of the American working man is endangered by the present immigration.

If men cannot find an opportunity in their own country to develop the skill and genius with which God has gifted them, they will go to a country where their abilities can be employed, as they have gone from Canada to the United States.

We must, by every reasonable means, import our people, not in one branch of industry, not merely as farmers, as tillers of the soil, but we must bring out of every kind of industry, must develop the minds of the people and their energies.

The coming of Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of certain localities within the territory thereof …. the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States be, and the same is hereby, suspended; and during such suspension it shall not be lawful for any Chinese laborer to come, or having so come after the expiration of said ninety days, to remain within the United States

The Latin American people have become fed up with the 500 year siesta and the lack of opportunity. So they come to the United States. But that is because the leaders of their countries do not do anything to improve the situation…. When Mexican President Fox took office he observed that over half the Mexican population was living in poverty and that he was unlikely to make significant changes during his remaining term in office. That was a sophisticated way of saying to the Mexicans, “Go to the United States!”

Immigration makes losers and winners.

Migration is development.

[I have] concerns [about] the character of the foreigners now resorting to our shores. Fifty, even thirty years ago, there was a rightful presumption regarding the average immigrant that he was among the most enterprising, thrifty, alert, adventurous, and courageous of the community from which he came. It required no small energy, prudence, forethought, and pains to conduct the inquiries relating to his migration, to accumulate the necessary means, and to find his way across the Atlantic. To-day the presumption is completely reversed.

For many decades the country was very sparsely settled. There was abundant free land. Labor was scarce. The number of immigrants was still very small, and nearly all of them were sturdy pioneers, essentially homogeneous and readily assimilated. There was, therefore, little need to worry about any immigration "problems," and it was comforting to the consciences of our ancestors to keep the doors wide open.

Britain’s efforts to restrict immigration have become “a very large obstacle” to hiring the best scientists.

The most important import the United States has ever had has been human talent.

Migrants make huge contributions to both their host countries and countries of origin. They take jobs that local workforces cannot fill, boosting economic activity. Many are innovators and entrepreneurs.

The U.K. and the U.S. are quite similar in that they have high-productivity, English-speaking workforces who don't mind working long hours. Working in those countries is not a problem.

As a global community, we face a choice. Do we want migration to be a source of prosperity and international solidarity, or a byword for inhumanity and social friction?