Reviewed by Bre'Anna
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Open Borders is an illustrated commentary that brings up points and counterpoints concerning immigration in a thought-provoking, open-minded way. A combined effort from George Mason University's economic professor Bryan Caplan and beloved cartoonist and webcomic author Zach Weinersmith, Open Borders gets the readers thinking about our nation's current policies and why open borders can be a good thing. Presented in layman's terms, this book's simple examples show thoughtful and credible research in a fun way. Caplan's research shows that opening all borders would usher in a booming global economy, practically eliminating poverty worldwide and ultimately benefiting all of humanity. He carefully addresses every prominent argument against immigration, taking the reason of its opponents seriously, yet showing that fears are commonly misplaced.
I enjoyed the vibrant, humorous illustration by Zach Weinersmith. The cartoon helped me understand immigration policy. I'm better informed of the concerns for allowing open borders: immigration causing a spike in crime, immigrants can take away jobs from native citizens, draining funds by taking government assistance, not fitting in with our culture or language, etc. However, I am now also aware that there is research that disproves some of these concerns. I enjoyed learning about this research, and I liked learning more about the possible solutions to the problems. Wherever you stand on the immigration debate, this book will give you more knowledge on the subject and more insights on where you stand.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Read-a-likes:
- The Common Good by Robert B. Reich
- The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria