Chapter 16: Population Growth and the Atlantic Migration Summary

This chapter highlights the role of population growth and immigration in fueling high growth rates in the U.S. between 1860 and 1910. Immigrants contributed to the U.S. stock of human capital and labor force. Meanwhile, birth and death rates began their modern declines in the U.S. Health improvements that increased longevity and improved birthing conditions, prenatal care and health care in general contributed to the nearly tripled growth in the U.S. population. Contrary to pessimist Thomas Malthus’ theory, starvation did not ensue. In fact, real output grew even more rapidly under the push of industrialization and advancements in technology.

1. 
   Discuss the roles of skilled and unskilled labor in fueling domestic economic growth. Compare and contrast the role of labor and entrepreneurial talent. Sobel’s (2008) work on entrepreneurship may prove resourceful to instructor and student. See Websites and Additional Resources below.
   
2. 
   Discuss immigration’s contributions to the total population stock between 1860 and 1910. Discuss the debate over the impact of immigration on the domestic labor market. Borjas’ (2008) work on immigration may prove resourceful to instructor and student. See Websites and Additional Resources below.
   
3. 
   Present the push and pull factors associated with immigration patterns. Integrate discussions of how movements along the U.S. business cycle impact decisions to migrate.
   
4. 
   Explain how the skill sets of immigrants, the composition of migrants, and the rates of immigration impact decisions to deepen or widen capital investments by impacting the expected rates of return from these investments.
   
5. 
   Highlight the importance of foreign investment in expanding the production capacity in the U.S. Explain how domestic movements along the U.S. business cycle impacted, and continue to impact, the attractiveness of foreign investment in the U.S. Mack’s (1993) work on immigration may prove resourceful to instructor and student. See Websites and Additional Resources below.
   
6. 
   Summarize the change in the composition of the migration patterns. Highlight the economic implications.
   

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  Borjas, George J. "Immigration." The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. 2008. Library of Economics and Liberty. Retrieved December 10, 2009 from: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Immigration.html
  
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  Ott, Mack. "Foreign Investment in the United States." The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. 1993. Library of Economics and Liberty. Retrieved December 10, 2009 from: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/ForeignInvestmentintheUnitedStates.html
  
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  Sobel, Russell S. "Entrepreneurship." The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. 2008. Library of Economics and Liberty. Retrieved December 10, 2009 from: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Entrepreneurship.html