Was migrating way easier back then (e.g., people can just board a ship with their bags to the US and settle there)? What makes migrating to most countries so difficult now?

Question

Was migrating way easier back then (e.g., people can just board a ship with their bags to the US and settle there)? What makes migrating to most countries so difficult now?

In: 491

Answer 1

Also the welfare state changes how people view immigrants. There is a concern, much overstated, in developed countries that immigrants may be a “burden” on the health/education/welfare system. That was less of a concern back when people paid their own way for those expenses.