This week the coalition government has new cause to regret strapping itself to a pledge of reducing net migration to the “tens of thousands” per year by 2015.
Ruth Grove-White is a policy officer at the Migrants’ Rights Network
This week the coalition government has new cause to regret strapping itself to a pledge of reducing net migration to the “tens of thousands” per year by 2015. The latest outlook report from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) shows that even the government’s expert advisors assume this target will not be met.
The independent OBR produces a five-year ‘Economic and fiscal outlook’ every six months, based on an assessment of the UK economy and public finances.
The latest report predicts shaky growth during the coming period, with the government facing significant risks that they will fall short of meeting growth targets.
At the same time, a higher than predicted level of net migration is built into the OBR forecast, with the report (pdf) stating:
“Our assumption for [UK] population growth is based on average net inward migration of 140,000 per annum over the forecast period, in line with our March forecast and with the long-term assumption underpinning the ONS’s low migration variant population projection.”
This is embarrassing for two reasons. Firstly because the government is having a hard time convincing anyone its immigration target can or will be met – and it appears the OBR is among the sceptics. Who could blame them though? Immigration statistics from the Office of National Statistics repeatedly show the government is way off course, with annual net migration to the UK in 2010 252,000, the highest calendar figure on record.
A recent YouGov survey (pdf) for the Sunday Times found just 16% of the public believes it likely the government will deliver on its pledge of net immigration reduction by 2015. Having over-promised on this target, the government is now facing the prospect of a very public under-delivery.
Secondly, the OBR forecast reflects the view of many economists that continued immigration, at levels higher than the government intends, could play a vital role in supporting growth in the UK.
As reported in The Independent, the OBR indicated (pdf) this time last year:
“Net migration can directly affect the economy’s trend growth rate by affecting potential labour supply growth.
“If migrants have a similar employment rate and level of productivity to the existing average, a reduction or increase in population growth of 0.1 per cent would translate one-for-one to a reduction or increase in trend growth of 0.1 per cent respectively.”
Evidence given to the Migration Advisory Committee over the past 18 months has indicated significant risks to the UK of cutting economic migration from outside the EU. Notably, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) estimated (pdf) the immigration cap could cost the UK £2 to £4 billion by 2015.
And despite efforts of the anti-immigration lobby to demonstrate otherwise, the view of the OBR (pdf) is:
“…existing analysis suggest little evidence of a significant effect from immigration on earnings or employment, although there is some evidence of a small effect in the low-skilled sector.”
More difficult to assess but potentially no less important, are the economic implications of withdrawing wider rights to migrants. The government is currently engaged in trying to reduce family migration as well as to end settlement opportunities for most migrant workers.
But making it more difficult to work here is likely to be short-sighted, potentially reducing the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for skilled migrants into the future. Economists know that migration and diaspora networks bring value to wealthy countries. We should be demanding the coalition government’s immigration policies support economic growth in the UK rather than undermining it.
See also:
• Crazy May’s immigration policy will make us all poorer – Alex Hern, November 21st 2011
• New student visa system turning prospective entrepreneurs away from the UK – Will Straw, November 18th 2011
• Kellner: May’s immigration rhetoric “seems to have backfired with public opinion” – Shamik Das, November 14th 2011
• FT slam dog-whistle May’s “preference for popular pandering over rational policy” – Shamik Das, November 8th 2011
• Anti-foreign student rhetoric risks real harm to our global reputation – Sally Hunt, September 22nd 2011
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23 Responses to “Immigration policy should support UK economic growth, not undermine it”
pat elsmie
RT @MigRightsScot @leftfootfwd: Immigration policy should support UK economic growth, not undermine it http://t.co/oVRKdoJl
Wladyslaw Mejka
RT @MigRightsScot @leftfootfwd: Immigration policy should support UK economic growth, not undermine it http://t.co/oVRKdoJl
Jacques
RT @nandosigona: RT @leftfootfwd: Immigration policy should support UK economic growth, not undermine it http://t.co/goyZAS7H #ukimmigration
Guest12
okay, so basically, the population growth in the United Kingdom, is very high, and is still increasing today. Mainly being migrated by foreighners, however. The United Kingdom is a tiny country compare to others, but it still has a very large amount of space for populating.
Argiebee
The argument that net migration grows the economy is true but misleading.
Consider this, if Scotland got independence from the UK then the UK population and GDP would shrink by about 10%. The rest of the UK would not experience a 10% cut in living standards. The GDP per capita might even increase but again it would not have any real impact. Even the fact that more public money is spent per head in Scotland would have minimal affect on the remaining parts of the UK.
You could also consider the effect of the UK annexing Ireland. GDP would rise but people in the UK would be no better off.
The idea that economic growth by population growth is good in its own right is flawed.