Saturday Seminar - The Economics of Immigration

This class is offered either in-person or virtually. Those attending virtually will receive a separate email with the Zoom link to the meeting.

Grades: Secondary Teacher Focus (ideal for teachers in grades 6-12, but all K-12 teachers are welcome)
Continuing Education Credit: Certificate for 7.5 hours
Optional Credit: ½ UCCS ECON 6310 Graduate Credit Hour, $50.
Faculty: Neal Rappaport, PhD
Mentor Teacher: Jason Bradley
Travel Stipend: $50 travel stipends are available for teachers traveling more than 75 miles one-way to attend the class
Includes: Light breakfast, lunch

Full Seminar Description:

The Economics (and other dimensions) of Immigration, Emigration, and Trade

People have been on the move throughout human history. They move for survival, safety, freedom, and, of course, for economic reasons. And today it is no different. Even a cursory glance at the news in the United States and Europe will demonstrate how the movement of people, goods, and services remains a key element of economic development, controversy, societal change, and political debate.

In the session on February 8, the focus will be on the economic facts and theories underlying immigration, especially upon the current situation in the United States. Emphasizing the facts will provide a common basis to apply economic theory. Fundamental economic theories about substitutes and complements and externalities will enhance understanding of the positives and negatives of immigration.

The flip side of immigration is, obviously, emigration. This part of the presentation will address the effects of emigration on countries where people are leaving, especially those leaving for more clearly identifiable economic reasons. While countries do experience emigration due to non-economic reasons—to escape conflict for example—those reasons tend to be more transitory than economic ones.

Finally, we look at trade in goods and services. While this may seem out of place in a presentation on immigration and emigration, the import and export of goods and services can be viewed as a complement or even a replacement for the movement of people.

As I have in my previous presentations, I also welcome questions on these topics and on other areas of economics as a way of encouraging participation and worthwhile discourse.

Host or Publisher Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain