Press release from the Association Française de Science Économique on the immigration bill voted by Parliament on December 19, 2023

Press release from the Association Française de Science Économique on the immigration bill voted by Parliament on December 19, 2023

AFSE joins the numerous reactions from the academic world to express its deep concern at the adoption of the recent immigration law.

Several of the law's provisions call into question France's long tradition of openness to foreign students. In addition to being discriminatory measures, the elimination of the possibility of exemption from higher tuition fees for non-EU students and the introduction of a return guarantee are clear obstacles to access to knowledge and the development of research. In the current context of intense international competition to attract students, this law will undermine the dynamism and influence of French research and higher education.

The AFSE also deplores the spirit of this law, which equates immigrants with a danger to the French economy and society, which should be limited as much as possible. The broad scientific consensus within the international community of economists runs counter to its underlying assumptions. Seeking to reduce the number of foreign students is not a source of savings; on the contrary, it means depriving ourselves of the human capital and innovation potential that will drive tomorrow's growth. The same applies to restricting access to social benefits to legally resident foreigners. Contrary to what is implied by those who look only at expenditure, immigrants do not represent a cost, either to the country or to public finances, so there is no economic legitimacy to this measure, which marks a breach of equal access to rights, contrary to the foundations of Social Security. Contrary to another widespread prejudice, migratory flows also have very moderate long-term effects on wages and employment. Reducing them will therefore do nothing to improve French purchasing power or reduce unemployment.

The AFSE deplores the fact that scientific knowledge in economics, and more broadly in the social sciences, is not more fully integrated into public decision-making on a subject such as this, which is primarily a matter for them.