Debunking myths about immigration

Immigration has become one of the major topics of debate in Catalonia and the rest of Europe. Several articles have addressed it in this newspaper (see here, here and here). And today, almost one in four people living in Catalonia was born abroad. Despite the normalization of this phenomenon, social perception remains highly polarized: according to the latest CEO barometer, 59% of Catalans believe there is too much immigration. But what does scientific research tell us about the real impact of newcomers?

Let's start with the labor market.accumulated evidence For decades, the prevailing trend has been clear: immigration has a small—and often zero, or even positive—effect on the employment opportunities of natives. The reasons are diverse: immigrants are not usually direct substitutes for local workers, but often have different profiles and specializations. This creates complementarities that can benefit productivity. For example, the arrival of immigrants in the care sector has allowed many native women to enter the labor market. Spanish case, this explains part of the increase in female labor participation during the 2000s. In addition, recent studies indicate that entrepreneurs adapt production and that natives tend to specialize or continue training in response to increased potential job competition.

Regarding public finances, the contribution of immigrants is generally positive, especially when they integrate into the labor market. In the short term, immigrants tend to represent a cost for the host country, especially in terms of social benefits. However, in aging societies like ours, the presence of young, working-age populations helps sustain the pension system and finance public services. recent study shows that immigrants in Spain generate less public spending per capita than natives, and that their tax contributions – although lower per unit, given the lower salary level – are positive overall. Furthermore, according to another recent studyWhen immigrants regularize their administrative status, as occurred with the 2005 amnesty, public revenues increase significantly, thanks to new contributions and taxes. Incidentally, this same study also shows that the amnesty did not trigger the feared pull effect.

And what about the relationship between immigration and crime? Despite their overrepresentation in prisons, there's no evidence that increased immigration causes an increase in prisons. crime rates at the local level. This contradiction may be due to factors such as harsher treatment by the judicial system, the demographic profile of newcomers (young, low-skilled men among whom the incidence of crime is higher), or a possible substitution of criminal activity between natives and immigrants. Furthermore, many undocumented immigrants are included in prison statistics but not in population statistics, which distorts comparisons. In fact, recent studies Studies show that when immigrants have access to work permits, their involvement in criminal activities decreases significantly. The best tool for reducing social risks is, once again, guaranteeing access to legal and decent jobs.

Immigration is, ultimately, a structural and irreversible phenomenon in open, globalized societies. Reversing its flow would be both unrealistic and counterproductive.

Let's not forget that many immigrants return to their country of origin after a few years. But their children, born here, are and will be full citizens. In an aging society like Catalonia's, ensuring their inclusion, access to quality education, and equal opportunities is not just a matter of justice: it is an essential investment in the country's future.