Paddy McGuinness offers a well-reasoned and balanced response to Max Corden’s call for higher immigration. With very minor exceptions, the article is free of the omnidirectional vitriol I’ve come to associate with McGuinness’ work, and there’s even a modest hint of idealism in the conclusion. Reading this piece reminds me of why I admired him so much back in the 1970s. It would be good to see more like this from him.

I’m more favorable to migration than McGuinness, though not as much so as Corden. My main argument is a liberal/libertarian one namely that, if people want to come here, and the effects on the welfare of those of us who are already here are small and ambiguous, then we should let them come. For those with a more narrowly-defined welfare function, I’ll add the observation that most intending immigrants have family members and friends here in Australia who want them to come, and that refusing them entry therefore reduces Australian welfare.

Update Carrying on my recent display of fallibility, I omitted the link, which is here. I’ve now included it where it should go