Restrictive Border Policies Prevent Numerous Positives
During the presidential election cycle, many candidates (including Donald Trump) have suggested that we need to have “more secure” borders and slander others as being for “open borders.” However, would that really be so bad? There are plenty of reasons to allow for individuals to move freely in trade as they so wish, particularly if there is a demand for employers. These are the top five arguments for open borders.
1. Much Higher Economic Production
Allowing individuals the ability to freely travel could unleash the world economy, benefiting all people. Some economists suggest that gross world product could be doubled by allowing free global labor mobility. Even the most conservative estimates suggest an increase of 20% to 60%. When individuals are able to spread out and find more ideal situations across the globe, they are given the opportunity to optimize their talents. With borders as they are now, some are artificially prevented from flourishing in capacities which would otherwise be attainable.
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2. Improved Living Standards for the Poorest People
When immigrants bring their often cheaper labor to a country, they necessarily produce more economical goods for the citizens living in that country. However, the greatest benefits can be felt by those even poorer: those living in the immigrant’s home country. In fact, some economists suggest that open borders could bring an end to global poverty. This is because, as noted in the previous point, migrants can make much more in some countries than they ever would in their birth country. Further, immigrants send around $200 billion (if not closer to $400 billion) back to their home countries, allowing for significant economic development.
3. Cultural Enrichment of the Country
The refrain of a country being a “melting pot” is one which is often repeated, but it is worth recognizing. Whether in fashion, language, or food, immigrants bring with them copious amounts of resources which are internally undiscoverable. In addition, immigrants bring with them their life experiences and talents, thus blessing their new country with these gifts. With this knowledge, it makes little sense to attempt to allow government (of all institutions) to sift through who is valuable or not. As libertarians understand, bureaucracy has no ability to adequately pick and choose good from bad, and in this case, the market is a much better mechanism in determining viability.
4. An End to Much Death and Violence
There is no doubt a crisis centered around those attempting to immigrate. As economist Philippe Legrain notes, there are “deaths and suffering in the desert; the detentions,” as well as “a criminalized people-smuggling industry.” Every year, large numbers of people (including children) risk their lives in attempts to cross the American border. Even with steep odds and much danger, they take this risk nonetheless. This is not to mention that the American-Mexican border is a near-warzone, with expanded police powers leading to the Constitution and its protections being almost legally non-existent within 100 miles of the American border.
5. Freedom of Contract and Association
A more general philosophically libertarian reason for open borders is the expansion of the freedoms of contract and association. As noted on Libertarianism.org, “Crossing an international border does not harm anyone’s person or property, so it is a protected action. Preventing you from crossing the border to see your friend, or preventing them from coming to visit you, is no more justifiable than the government erecting roadblocks around a church or other private gathering place to prevent people from meeting there.” If an employer wishes to take on the labor of someone on the other side of a border, he or she should not be legally prevented by government from doing so. This concept is consistent with the libertarian approach of mutually-beneficial transactions.