The populist backlash against immigration is strong evidence that a mass influx of lower-skilled workers can lower the quality of political institutions. This prospect should therefore encourage social scientists to study the ways that national demographic changes shape the governments that rule over us.

Garett Jones is associate professor in the Department of Economics and BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
EconomyImmigrationLaw and Liberty