Re: [Marxism] Do Latino immigrants drive down wages (was:"RE:immigration issues")

[Javier A <javierunderground@xxxxxxxxx>]

All these arguements that argue that immigration does not lower wages are 
really interesting. And obviously immigrant bashing is done as largely a 
justification for class attacks and the downward trajectory of wages that has 
been going on since 1973. If we were to take one of the important points (in 
the article) that industries compete with each other, rather than general 
regions, like California strawberry workers who compete with strawberry workers 
in Oaxaca, Mexico, then how would this arguement apply to the service industry? 
The service industry, composed of young workers and immigrants, is a pool of 
labor that is very flexible with a low critieria for entry. As the American 
economy has shifted towards service in the last 30 years and its dependency on 
it is heightening, then it seems that the argument that immigration does not 
effect wages simply does not apply- but im not sure about this its just what 
jumped into my head. What do people think?

  Javier



Marvin Gandall <marvgandall@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  Sartesian wrote:

> 1. immigrant labor does not drive down wages. Wage rates are, and have
> been historically, independent of immigration flows. Real wages in the
> US declined between 1973 and 1993 regardless of immigration flows. Real
> wages increased 1994-2000 coincident with increased immigration. Real
> wages 2001-2005 have not been determined by immigration flows as the
> jobs "taken" by immigrants are mostly jobs vacated by previous
> immigrants.

                
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