Who "Contributes"?
7 October 2007
Editor, The Washington Times
Al Eisner asserts that undocumented immigrants come to America "for their own economic gains and greed" and "do not contribute to [Montgomery] county in any way" (Letters, October 7).
I recommend to Mr. Eisner a book by Adam Smith entitled An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. In it, the late Professor Smith explains compellingly that voluntary exchanges in market economies generate greater prosperity for all parties to the exchanges even when each party pursues only his own gain.
To allege that immigrant workers in Montgomery County contribute nothing is to allege that their employers are economic imbeciles who pay wages and, in return, routinely get nothing. Were I a resident of Montgomery County, I'd be insulted by Mr. Eisner's low opinion of me and my neighbors.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Editor, The Washington Times
Al Eisner asserts that undocumented immigrants come to America "for their own economic gains and greed" and "do not contribute to [Montgomery] county in any way" (Letters, October 7).
I recommend to Mr. Eisner a book by Adam Smith entitled An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. In it, the late Professor Smith explains compellingly that voluntary exchanges in market economies generate greater prosperity for all parties to the exchanges even when each party pursues only his own gain.
To allege that immigrant workers in Montgomery County contribute nothing is to allege that their employers are economic imbeciles who pay wages and, in return, routinely get nothing. Were I a resident of Montgomery County, I'd be insulted by Mr. Eisner's low opinion of me and my neighbors.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Saturday April 5, 2008 at 2:37pm