Wages and Immigration Based Labour: Does the Addition of Immigration Based Labour Negatively Implact Wages for Existing Labour


This dissertation examines how wage theorem applies to the question, does immigration based labour negatively impact domestic based labour in the area of wages? Existing research is mostly US based and marco level which make the findings less applicable in the Canadian context. In the US the predominant research suggests, generally, there is plausibility to the narrative that immigrants depress wages. However, there is a precedent where a shorter duration and more narrow skill and localized situation was studied and found that there was no negative impact to wages due to the arrival of a cohort of immigrants. Immigration is key contributor to Canadian society and economy as are related issues about labour supply and demand, wages and economic outcomes. For these reasons the aim of my dissertation was to test previous findings on this topic and establish the basis on which to purse more focused research on this matter to improve applicability and help inform policies to ensure all involved are able to receive the maximum benefit from immigration.

Stephen Chase
Degree: MA
Status: Completed (2018)
Supervisor: Karolina Follis
Department and University: Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University
Email: Stephen.gilbert.chase@gmail.com