A Market for Immigrants

[Vlerchan]

Mr Becker argued that immigration was out of kilter because of the absence of a price that would match supply and demand. Governments, he suggested, could use economic principles to allocate visas, either by selling the right to migrate at a price that called forth a desired number of migrants, or by auctioning immigrant visas.

http://www.economist.com/node/16424085

The argument is presented in this 2010 Ebook (http://www.iea.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/files/IEA%20Challenge%20of%20Immigration%20web.pdf).

Becker's belief was that charging immigrants a fee - or offering visas through auction - to enter as immigrants would attract the most industrious. He suggested a loan scheme so that lower-skilled could access the programme. It could also first be opened up to illegal-immigrants registered in the United States.

He also suggested a separate market for refugees. Each state would be given a quota conditional on it's wealth and capacities for integration. It would then be possible for states to sell parts of their obligation to other states.

So, is there any takers of that idea here?

[Ragle]

Reminds me a bit of this moronic emissions trading system.

[Vlerchan]

Reminds me a bit of this moronic emissions trading system.
I imagine it was inspired by cap-and-trade, since the theoretical proposal is strong.

The manner in which it was implemented tended to cede too much to the lobbying efforts of firms, though, which might also be an issue with markets for immigrants.

[Porpoise101]

Price + Immigrant = Slave

On a more serious note, I have a feeling that since many immigrant communities are already established, the relatives will just give money away (via remittances or transfers) to the person immigrating. Then you will end up with a bunch of immigrant clans that come in and dominate their communities. At least that is what happened with the Italians. It could also be a good opportunity to tax remittances though if what I've said is true, so it might be good. I'm not sure.

[Vlerchan]

On a more serious note, I have a feeling that since many immigrant communities are already established, the relatives will just give money away (via remittances or transfers) to the person immigrating.
I'm not sure if one family buying up a significant number of visas would be economical. I imagine the reserve price one be set at about 25,000 dollars, and in an auction environment one would expect the proliferation of such behaviour to result in a sharp rise in the price.

Of course, what you suggest is possible.