Recent waves of immigrants to the UK have contributed far more in taxes than they received in benefits

The question of whether immigrants make a positive or negative contribution to a state’s economy has been the subject of intense controversy across countries in Europe. Christian Dustmann and Tommaso Frattini outline results from research in the UK published in November 2013 which found that recent immigrants – those who arrived after 1999 – have provided a consistently positive and strong contribution to the UK’s fiscal health. This contrasts starkly with the 'drain on our economy' view often maintained in public debate.

• Primary Source

Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM)(University College London): Press Release, 05.11.13: Recent immigration to the UK: New evidence of the fiscal costs and benefits http://www.cream-migration.org/files/Press_release_fiscal_costs_benefits.pdf

Migration Observatory: Briefing, February 2013: The Fiscal Impact of Immigration in the UK http://www.migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/migobs/briefing%20-%20the%20fiscal%20impacy%20of%20immigration%20in%20the%20uk_0.pdf

OECD: The fiscal impact of immigration in OECD countries , 2013 http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/international-migration-outlook-2013/the-fiscal-impact-of-immigration-in-oecd-countries_migr_outlook-2013-6-en

Daily Telegraph, 05.11.13: Is immigration really a blessing or a curse? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10428048/Is-immigration-really-a-blessing-or-a-curse.html

ESO: Background information: Impact of mobile EU citizens on national social security systems http://www.europeansources.info/record/impact-of-mobile-eu-citizens-on-national-social-security-systems/

BBC News, 05.11.13: Recent immigrants to UK 'make net contribution' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24813467

Blog: mpcblog, 07.11.13: Are immigrants a burden for the state budget? (Migration Policy Centre) http://debatemigration.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/are-immigrants-a-burden-for-the-state-budget/

EUI: RSCAS Working Paper, 2013/79: Are immigrants a burden for the state budget? Review paper http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/28637/RSCAS_2013_79.pdf?sequence=1

Deutsche Welle, 14.11.13: Immigration beneficial for UK, says study http://dw.de/p/1AHa4

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