nope. other than the supposition that by posing a question and framing it in an interesting way, i’d get to hear wisdom being dropped by smart brothers like you…

Siddhartha, did you have a particular supposition in mind when you posed this question? The correlation actually isn’t necessarily all that surprising to me, since waves of migration often are stimulated by growth and development in sending countries. It’s one of the great myths about migration that lack of development or high population growth are the most important factors that stimulate migration — from Douglas Massey:

The large-scale movement of immigrants from developing to developed regions has both economic and social foundations. Economically, immigration originates not from simple wage differentials between poor and rich countries but from the spread of economic development to rapidly growing Third World populations and from a persistent demand for low-wage workers in developed nations. Immigration has many social foundations, but the formation of migrant networks is probably the most important. Networks build into the migration process a self-perpetuating momentum that leads to its growth over time, in spite of fluctuating wage differentials, recessions, and increasingly restrictive immigration policies in developed countries.

And this just scratches the surface on the factors that go into the social processes involved. So if we have been seeing large-scale increases in migration from India, it’s not necessarily because the Indian economy is faltering behind the “India Shining” facade. In other words, even if the 1990s liberalization had been kinder and gentler, it might not necessarily have dampened the factors that stimulated migration to the United States and elsewhere. There are too many other factors involved.

(Though again, I’m not actually sure from your post if you meant to be suggesting that — it sounded like you might be, but I wasn’t quite sure.)

The US-Mexico experience provides a good illustration of this dynamic — a really digestible, easy-to-follow analysis of these issues (also by Massey), focusing on the US-Mexico dynamic and helpfully discussing five common myths about immigration, can be found here.

Nothing, we didn’t already know though conventional means.

GDP per Capita of the USA $40 100 GDP per Capita of Mexico $9600 GDP per Capita of Brazil $8100 GDP per Capita of China $6000

• South Asian Countries - Sri Lanka $4000 India $3100 Pakistan $2200 Bangladesh $2000 Nepal $1500 Bhutan $1400

Mexico is richer than most of the world’s population. Most of the people advocate illegal immigration on a humanitarian basis don’t seem to understand this.

If India continues to grow at the current rate, it can hope to be a Mexico (in terms of standard of living) in 15 years. If it adopts regressive economic policies it will become a Bhutan in 15 years. If it does nothing it will remain much the same as it is today.

I don’t see any posts that embrace that position. Certain comments just pointed out the fact that illegal immigrants, especially those of color, might have similar interests and be facing the same problems.

you are creating a consciousness among white Americans whose consequences may be hard to control. Not good.

I’m not sure what you mean by this.

Plus, I don’t think anyone has said that they are a “pro-illegal immigration supporter.” A belief that the system is broken and needs fixing does not imply that one is embracing illegality. It only implies that one is embracing reality.

To pro-illegal immigration supporters: you are creating a consciousness among white Americans whose consequences may be hard to control. Not good.

many no have family members in the US and a social structure to support them here

should read:

many now have family members in the US and a social structure to support them here.

I predict a massive increase in Indian students in the US. Previously people who would move to the US for graduate studies will now do so for their undergraduate studies as well. Indian’s middle class students now have the advantage’s of: 1) better recognition in the western universities 2) rising income in the middle class can support students studying in the US. 3) many no have family members in the US and a social structure to support them here.

Most of these students will stay back in the US, leading to fresh surge in immigration of the best and brightest Indian students into the US.