Dr Scott Blinder on recent plans to cut net migration to the UK

Scott Blinder commented on a study by the Oxford Migration observatory in The Sun (01 March, 2012) on recent efforts by the government to cut net migration to the UK. The same study by the Oxford Migration Observatory was cited in the BBC News Online (29 February, 2012) and the Financial Times (01 March, 2012).

The Sun notes that government efforts may be derailed if the cuts focus on non-EU students migrants. Since they are the majority of migrants but most of them leave after they finish their studies, cutting their numbers would not impact net migration in the long run.

Scott said that targeting more foreign students would help short-term figures, but lead to a rebound a few years down the line.

The immigration minister, however, dismissed the findings as speculative.

The full article inThe Sun can be read here. The full artice in BC News an be read here and the full article in the Financial Times can be read here.