# Simple Immigration Economics: Bigger is Better

An episode of [Optimist Economy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1802625282), 7 Jul 2026, 52 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/sblTq32fyWAjsHzze2LG/dovetail.prxu.org/14811/c90e6781-4826-48bb-b3b4-f2a8db494d2f/260707_OE_224_ReRun_Immigration_FINAL.mp3

(Originally aired 6/24/2025) One in five workers in the United States was born in another country. Without them, the country’s prime-age workforce would be shrinking, and thus so would our economy. So the calumny (Terms & Conditions) directed at immigrants is at odds with the basic fact that the U.S. needs them. What about depressing wages? Research finds such a mixed bag of results that the overall effect is about zero. Indeed, if the goal is to save “American jobs” or help American workers, there are a lot more effective ways to spend $185 billion than on a massive crackdown on immigration rules. Chapters: 00:02:34 Announcements 00:05:55 Retcon 00:10:43 Terms & Conditions 00:12:21 Big Pilcrow 00:43:07 Executive Orders 00:49:12 Spiritual Sponsors • Donate to Optimist Economy: https://optimisteconomy.com • Video-curious? Watch the Optimist Economy YouTube channel. We’re also on Instagram at @optimist_economy or TikTok at @optimist_economy. • Chat with other Optimists on Substack. • Find utility with our merch: https://merch.ambientinks.com/collections/optimisteconomy • Got economic questions, concerns, or executive orders? Send them to optimist.economy@gmail.com

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