What are the positive effects of open-borders?
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Positive Effects of Open Borders
Economic Growth in Border Regions
Increased Regional Gross Value Added (GVA)
Open borders significantly contribute to the economic growth of border regions. A study focusing on European border regions found that the opening of national borders for the free movement of people is associated with a 2.7% increase in regional gross value added (GVA) per capita. This indicates that open borders can directly enhance the economic prosperity of regions by facilitating the movement of labor and capital.
Enhanced Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC)
Cross-border cooperation (CBC) further amplifies the economic benefits of open borders. The same study revealed that doubling the number of CBC project partners correlates with a 2.3% increase in regional GVA per capita. This suggests that collaborative projects across borders can lead to significant economic gains, promoting regional development and integration.
Global Economic Impact
Doubling of World GDP
On a global scale, the abolition of migration restrictions could lead to a near doubling of world GDP. In a scenario where 82% of the world's population migrates, world GDP could rise by 91%, significantly improving living standards worldwide. Even in a more conservative scenario, with 58% of the population migrating, world GDP could still increase by 85%. These findings highlight the immense potential of open borders to boost global economic output.
Improved Living Standards for Unskilled Workers
Open borders can also elevate the living standards of unskilled workers globally. In the aforementioned scenarios, the living standards of unskilled workers could rise to 26-31% of the US level, depending on the extent of migration. This improvement underscores the potential of open borders to reduce global poverty and inequality.
Innovation and Knowledge Flow
Facilitating Firm Innovation
Open borders create opportunities for firms in border regions to collaborate and innovate. Despite the challenges posed by borders, firms that engage in cross-border cooperation can access new knowledge resources and enhance their innovative capabilities. This collaborative innovation is crucial for economic growth and competitiveness in border regions.
Sustainable Regional Development
Removing Barriers to Capital and Labor Movement
Barriers that restrict the free movement of capital and labor can negatively impact the economic and social conditions of border regions. Open borders help mitigate these negative effects by facilitating the free flow of resources, which is essential for sustainable regional development. Historical examples from the European Union integration demonstrate the positive impact of open borders on regional prosperity.
Promoting Urbanization and Industrialization
In border areas, urbanization and industrialization are key to economic development. For instance, in the Sino-Vietnam border areas, promoting urbanization and the free movement of production factors has been identified as crucial for developing an open-oriented economy. This approach can be applied to other border regions to enhance their economic growth and development.
Conclusion
Open borders offer numerous positive effects, from boosting regional and global economic growth to improving living standards and fostering innovation. By facilitating cross-border cooperation and removing barriers to the movement of capital and labor, open borders can significantly contribute to sustainable regional development and global economic prosperity.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic