Question 1

Among the push factors that lead people to immigrate to another country are source country:

Accepted Answer

All the options listed (famine, poverty, low wages, and unemployment) are push factors that can drive individuals to leave their home country in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

Question 2

Among the "pull" factors that motivate people to immigrate to another country are destination country:

Accepted Answer

Pull factors are conditions that attract people to a new area, and high wages in a destination country are a common pull factor for immigration, as individuals often seek better economic opportunities.

Question 3

Among the "stay" factors that keep people from moving to another country are:

Accepted Answer

The ownership of hard-to-sell property in the source country is a "stay" factor because it represents a significant tie to the home country that can deter migration. This factor makes it financially or logistically difficult for individuals to leave, as they may not be able to easily liquidate their property assets or may feel a strong attachment to their home due to property ownership. Choices A, B, C, and E are typically considered "push" or "pull" factors encouraging people to leave their home country or attracting them to a new one, rather than factors that would keep them from moving.

Question 4

Why do so few people immigrate?

Accepted Answer

The economic and social costs of moving to a new country are high, which can deter people from immigrating. These costs include the expenses of moving, potential loss of social networks, and the challenge of adapting to a new culture and possibly learning a new language.

Question 5

The incentives that influence immigration fall into the following categories:

Accepted Answer

The correct answer includes both push and pull factors (negative and positive incentives for leaving or moving to a country) as well as incentives to stay in one's home country or to avoid moving to another country, covering the broad spectrum of factors influencing immigration decisions.

Question 6

International migration would be even greater than it actually is today if it were not for:

Accepted Answer

The extensive barriers to immigration that nearly all countries' governments have put in place are a significant factor limiting international migration. These barriers can include visa requirements, work permit restrictions, and other regulatory hurdles that make it more difficult for people to move from one country to another.

Question 7

International migrants:

Accepted Answer

International migrants often reconsider their initial decisions to migrate and may return to their native countries for various reasons, such as family ties, economic changes, or dissatisfaction with their experiences in the new country. This phenomenon, known as return migration, challenges the notion that migration is always a permanent move.

Question 8

During the first half of the nineteenth century, how did the United States answer the fourth of the "six immigration policy questions," namely how many resources should be devoted to enforcing the immigration restrictions?

Accepted Answer

During the first half of the nineteenth century, the United States did not have to devote resources to enforcing immigration restrictions because there were essentially no restrictions on immigration during this period. Immigration was largely open, especially to Europeans, and the federal government did not yet regulate it in a way that required enforcement.

Question 9

One of the very first U.S. laws that restricted immigration was enacted in:

Accepted Answer

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was one of the first significant laws restricting immigration into the United States, specifically targeting Chinese laborers.

Question 10

Among the legislation by the United States in the 1920s that finally placed strict limits on immigration is the:

Accepted Answer

The Emergency Quota Act of 1921, the Japanese Exclusion Act of 1924, and the Immigration Act of 1924 were all pieces of legislation by the United States in the 1920s that placed strict limits on immigration.

Question 11

After 1965 when the United States moved away from the quota system that favored immigration from Northern Europe to a more open system based, in large part, on the principle of "family reunification":

Accepted Answer

The change in immigration policy in 1965 led to a significant increase in immigrants from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia, as the new policy favored family reunification over the previous quota system that favored Northern Europeans.

Question 12

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA):

Accepted Answer

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) established penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, aiming to discourage illegal immigration by reducing job opportunities.

Question 13

Research has confirmed that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) provision:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that the provision for a one-time amnesty in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 may have inadvertently encouraged more people to enter the U.S. illegally, hoping to benefit from future amnesties.

Question 14

George Borjas' recent research on immigration has found that:

Accepted Answer

George Borjas' research has often highlighted that recent immigrants to the United States tend to be less skilled than those from earlier waves of immigration. This observation is part of a broader analysis on the economic impact of immigration, including labor market outcomes and public finance implications.

Question 15

Immigration policy in Western European countries is best described as follows:

Accepted Answer

Immigration policies within the European Union (EU) allow for the free movement of people among member states, meaning that EU citizens can live and work in other EU countries with few restrictions. However, immigration from countries outside the EU is subject to more stringent controls and regulations, reflecting the distinction made in choice C.

Question 16

Among the forces driving changes in developed countries' immigration policies is/are:

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed are significant forces driving changes in developed countries' immigration policies. Aging populations, shortages of skilled and educated labor in high-tech industries, and shortages of workers in low-wage service sectors all contribute to the need for adjustments in immigration policies to address these challenges.

Question 17

According to the case study on the traffickers who bring illegal workers to high-wage countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, or Germany, these intermediaries are able to carry out their lucrative trade because:

Accepted Answer

The wage differences between high-wage countries and lower-wage countries create significant arbitrage opportunities, making the trafficking of illegal workers lucrative for intermediaries.

Question 18

Could a destination country somehow keep wages for native workers unchanged even as immigrants are permitted into the country?

Accepted Answer

Immigration can have complex effects on the labor market, and one way to potentially mitigate negative impacts on native workers' wages is through regulatory measures. By restricting immigrant workers to specific sectors or types of jobs, a country might prevent these workers from directly competing with native workers, thereby helping to maintain the wage levels of the native population. This approach, however, raises ethical and fairness concerns.

Question 19

The aging of populations in most developed economies is likely to:

Accepted Answer

The aging of populations in developed economies tends to reduce the ratio of workers to retirees, creating labor shortages and economic pressures that can lead to reduced opposition to immigration. This is because immigrants can help fill labor gaps and support the pension system by contributing taxes.

Question 20

Unauthorized immigration:

Accepted Answer

Unauthorized immigration is indeed more common today than in the early twentieth century, largely due to increased global mobility and economic disparities. Employers in low-wage industries often implicitly support unauthorized immigration because it provides a source of cheap labor. Additionally, while there are laws against unauthorized immigration, the enforcement and punishment vary widely, and in many high-wage countries, it is not as strenuously punished as one might expect, often due to economic dependencies and the complexities of immigration law enforcement.

Quiz 19: Immigration Policy