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Open borders : the science and ethics of immigration
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2019
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Publishers Weekly Review
In Caplan's concise and clarifying barn burner of an economics thesis, he declares: "I want to see two parties fight about who loves immigration more." The George Mason University professor lays out his pro--open borders argument via wonky charts, data sets, and philosophical ruminations, brought to life by webcomics artist and science buff Weinersmith's clean, cheerful, and colorful drawings. Avoiding the nonfiction comics trap of info dumps, the science and art interplay in often amusing sequences that pan out to the bigger picture from cited facts and analysis. When Caplan points out that immigrants repopulate small, rural towns that have turned into "zombie economies," the image of a plague of zombies strolling a hollowed-out town center makes the idea stick. Both the arguments and visuals challenge toxic myths about immigrants--such as that they are responsible for increases in violent crime in the United States. "Whatever you've heard, the answer is no. On average, the foreign-born are less criminally inclined than natives," Caplan says, coolly staring down a masked bandit in an American flag shirt. The combination of Caplan's deep research and Weinersmith's snappy storytelling adds up to a persuasive treatise that sees open policy around immigration as historically positive and a future potential rising tide of consumers and producers together lifting boats and bottom lines. (Oct.)
Booklist Review
Borders, walls, detention camps, caged children . . . the dividing headlines seem never-ending. Regardless of readers' immigration politics, economics professor Caplan (The Myth of the Rational Voter, 2008) will provoke: Let's put this in perspective, he writes. The world now produces about $75 trillion a year. Open borders would easily double this. For eager naysayers, he's ready with a comeback: Why do math when you can hastily point fingers at foreigners? Beyond global prosperity, Caplan debunks protestations that opening borders will increase the financial burden on native populations (more working-age immigrants actually mean higher benefits with lower taxes); threats to safety (lightning is three times more likely to kill than terrorism); threats to culture and language ( cultural greatness equals the opportunity to choose the best lifestyles, art, food, and more). He's also got responses to every limiting political -ism, from egalitarism to Kantianism to utilitarianism. That his numbers-don't-lie arguments are supported by comprehensive research including 31 pages of source notes! makes easy dismissal impossible. His partner-in-insight Weinersmith provides crisp, easy-to-grasp artistic support, with his own occasional insertions of humor (comical t-shirts, peanut gallery duhs ) and pathos (a child's beached corpse, a toddler in a Don't deport my mom shirt). His dedication-page plea for information about a missing family member pointedly sets the stage for open borders.--Terry Hong Copyright 2010 Booklist
Kirkus Review
An acclaimed economics professor and a celebrated comic creator team up to argue that a major component of global peace and prosperity is actually open borders.In today's acrid political climate, where even the fundamental humanity of immigrants is often denied, many readers may be surprised to learn that the U.S. effectively maintained open borders until the Immigration Act of 1924. Beginning there, Caplan (Economics/George Mason Univ.; The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money, 2018, etc.) and Weinersmith (Science: Ruining Everything Since 1543: A Collection of Science-Themed Comics, 2014, etc.) offer a cogent and accessible analysis of U.S. immigration policy and how it should change. The author and illustrator build a framework for their position based on moral, economic, philosophical, and pragmatic considerations, all while anticipating naysayers in a fun, open, and respectful manner. One example is the "Skittles argument" against open borders, which asks, "if there were three poison pills in a bowl of Skittles, would you take a handful?" Caplan and Weinersmith gently invoke the spirit of probability theory pioneer Carl Friedrich Gauss to illustrate that this argument against immigration is actually the "height of innumeracy" because the bowl with three poison pills actually contains millions of delicious candiesand refusing to eat is as childish as refusing to leave your house because you might get struck by lightning. "Numeracy won't mend your heart if an immigrant kills someone you love," writes the author, "but numeracy will prevent you from using one injustice to rationalize another." For the sake of argument, Caplan and Weinersmith even accept the validity of the top complaints about immigration, but they propose "keyhole solutions" that address those concerns "without blanket restrictions on immigration." If that's not enough to spark serious discussions about open borders, they also enlist the wisdom of J.S. Mill, John Rawls, Robert Nozick, Richard Posner, Lee Kuan Yew, Immanual Kant, and even Jesus.A highly effective way to talk about an issue that remains a nonstarter for so many nationwide. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Summary

An Economist "Our Books of the Year" Selection

Economist Bryan Caplan makes a bold case for unrestricted immigration in this fact-filled graphic nonfiction.

American policy-makers have long been locked in a heated battle over whether, how many, and what kind of immigrants to allow to live and work in the country. Those in favor of welcoming more immigrants often cite humanitarian reasons, while those in favor of more restrictive laws argue the need to protect native citizens.

But economist Bryan Caplan adds a new, compelling perspective to the immigration debate: He argues that opening all borders could eliminate absolute poverty worldwide and usher in a booming worldwide economy--greatly benefiting humanity.

With a clear and conversational tone, exhaustive research, and vibrant illustrations by Zach Weinersmith, Open Borders makes the case for unrestricted immigration easy to follow and hard to deny.

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