
doi: 10.1436/89561
handle: 11365/1068635
It is sometimes maintained that states should open their borders to immigrants for the following reasons: there are unjustified inequalities among citizens of different states; open borders provide a relief to those inequalities. In this article I deal with such a position. First, I argue that, if we admit that equality requires free transnational movement of people, then we should also admit that equality requires free transnational movement of goods and capital as well; in fact, the consequences of free movement of people, goods and capital tend to be similar. Second, I show that those consequences may be contradictory: on the one hand, more equality among citizens of different states; on the other hand, more inequality within the states. The conclusion is that it is possible to be an egalitarian and to disagree with a wide-open borders position.
Equality, Protectionism, Sociology and Political Science, Equality; Global free market; Immigration; Open borders; Protectionism; Sociology and Political Science; Law, Global free market, Open border, Immigration, Law
Equality, Protectionism, Sociology and Political Science, Equality; Global free market; Immigration; Open borders; Protectionism; Sociology and Political Science; Law, Global free market, Open border, Immigration, Law
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
