Changing the debate: the impact of immigration on the UK

Opinion polls have shown for some time that the public sees immigration as one of the most important issues facing Britain (Ipsos Mori, 2015). At the same time, public understanding of evidence on the economic impacts of immigration is poor and strongly influenced by the media.

This in turn affects the quality and content of public debate and the policy formulation process. This video presents evidence of the economic benefits of immigration to the UK and to London, but acknowledges that there has been some impact on pay, and that there are ‘winners and losers’.

It is targeted at a wide audience who lack accurate information about migration impacts from which to form their opinions. It is intended to stimulate thinking and debate.

This video originally featured on the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR)