Immigration impacts the economic vitality and well-being of the communities immigrants come from and move to for work. In migrant-receiving countries, the economic impact of immigration is almost uniformly positive. Researchers have sometimes worried that immigration would drive down wages. Still, it turns out that increasing the number of workers and consumers improves economic vitality in almost all cases, including higher wages. Moreover, immigrants in the United States have brought small rural communities back from the brink of disappearing and have contributed billions of dollars in economic growth in Nebraska and elsewhere. Refugees, in particular, often need social assistance and services upon their first arrival but ultimately contribute more to economic growth than they receive.

In cooperation with the Carne y Arena exhibit at the KANEKO, in this Conversatorio, a panel of scholars and community leaders will discuss the economic impact of immigration, with a particular focus on Nebraska. Panelists will examine economic and sociological research on migration and tell immigrants’ economic stories in urban and rural Nebraskan communities. Food and drink will be provided.

Panelists:

Dr. Lina Traslaviña Stover, Executive Director, Heartland Workers Center

Dr. Christopher Decker, Professor, College of Business Administration, UNO

Ms. Dulce Sherman, Owner, Sherman Executive Consulting; Chief HR& DEI Officer for Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative

Moderator:

Dr. Cristián Doña-Reveco, Director, UNO Office of Latino and Latin American Studies

Zoom Registration