The Paradox of Immigration
| Autor: | Henry Pratt Fairchild |
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| Rok vydání: | 1911 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | American Journal of Sociology. 17:254-267 |
| ISSN: | 1537-5390 0002-9602 |
| DOI: | 10.1086/211967 |
| Popis: | In almost every popular discussion of the immigration problem-and there is scarcely a question of public interest on which the average citizen feels himself more thoroughly qualified to express an opinion-two fundamental principles are assumed. These are, first, that immigration increases the population of the United States by an amount equal to the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants; and secondly, that emigration from European countries reduces the population there, relieves congestion, and by serving as an outlet for the excess of people, improves conditions. These two propositions having been taken for granted, the argument proceeds in one direction or another according to the observation, taste, prejudices, or interests of the arguer. A moment's reflection will show to what extent the validity of the stock arguments on these topics rests upon the truth or falsity of these fundanental assumptions. And it is inevitable that it should be so, for the effect of immigration movements on density of population lies at the very heart of the whole matter. Since this is the case, it is tremendously important for the true understanding of the immigration problem, that these two propositions be subjected to the severest scrutiny, and the result of the investigation be firmly impressed on the minds of students of the subject, and of the populace in general. At the outset, however, we must candidly face the fact that we are not likely ever to arrive at a positive proof, one way or the other. Like so many other social phenomena, changes in population are affected by so many and so complicated influences, that it is impossible to arrive at a mathematical demonstration of any one factor, which involves the elimination of all others. Immigration may affect population, but so do war, vice, hard |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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