Abstract

This paper attempts to further research on the fiscal impact of immigration. My findings are illustrated by computing the net fiscal impact, in present value terms, of admitting one additional immigrant, conditional on education, gender, and age at the time of immigration. I demonstrate that the average immigrant arriving past age 34 has a lifetime negative fiscal impact. Additionally, a college educated immigrant arriving past age 52 will have a lifetime negative fiscal impact while a non-college educated immigrant will roughly have a lifetime negative fiscal impact, regardless of age at arrival. Further, I confirm that age at arrival matters, and determine that arrival prior to working age influences educational attainment. Finally, I provide a household life-cycle model that sheds light on the fiscal contribution of immigrating families. All immigration referred to in this paper is legal.