Tim Anderson > if your wages are higher than in another country you...
· Comment — Archer T. Ships replied to Tim Anderson's comment. · View on Facebook · Markdown source
Tim Anderson > if your wages are higher than in another country you have an interest in opposing immigrants from or products from that country. The world is not zero sum. You becoming wealthy doesn't prevent me from also becoming wealthy. And the same is true of people who immigrate from China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lump_of_labour_fallacy > because the US is going to continue to get worse the only avenue for workers to keep their wages higher is protectionism and labor exclusion. No, protectionism makes them poorer, as they must pay higher taxes, higher prices (due to being forced to buy goods from less efficient native suppliers), or go without many goods altogether. We're all wealthier when a) goods / capital can move to where they are needed most b) people can move to where their natural talents can enjoy their fullest expression. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_advantage If protectionism worked, the US shipbuilding industry would be thriving due to the Jones Act. But the US shipbuilding industry is almost dead because immigration suppression laws make it impossible to build competitively priced ships in the US. > The US admits mostly low wage workers which suppresses wages and provokes anti-immigration backlash. Yes, US immigration law is stupid in many ways.