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Is Immigration Good for Health? The Effect of Immigration on Older Adult Mortality in the United States

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  • David C. Grabowski
  • Jonathan Gruber
  • Brian E. McGarry

Abstract

We measure the impact of increased immigration on mortality among elderly Americans, who rely on the immigrant-intensive health and long-term care sectors. Using a shift-share approach we find a strong impact of immigration on the size of the immigrant care workforce: admitting 1,000 new immigrants would lead to 142 new foreign healthcare workers, without evidence of crowd out of native health care workers. We also find striking effects on mortality: a 25% increase in the steady state flow of immigrants to the US would result in 5,000 fewer deaths nationwide. We identify reduced use of nursing homes as a key mechanism driving this result.

Suggested Citation

  • David C. Grabowski & Jonathan Gruber & Brian E. McGarry, 2026. "Is Immigration Good for Health? The Effect of Immigration on Older Adult Mortality in the United States," NBER Working Papers 34791, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34791
    Note: AG LS PE
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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