If you are wondering what a green card is and what criteria are used to determine who gets one, then you are wondering about the United States’ policies on authorized immigration. An authorized immigrant is a noncitizen born in another country who has received formal permission to live and work in the United States. Green cards are the most visible indicator of the complex rules and processes that determine who can immigrate to the US and who cannot. Often, the term ‘immigration’ is used to describe both legal (authorized) immigration and illegal (unauthorized) immigration. This brief focuses on authorized immigration, or immigration to the US that is allowed by the US government. (For information on unauthorized immigration and other aspects of immigration policy, see the For Further Reading section at the end of this brief.)

Economic conditions matter. Inflation increases what we pay for everything from food to houses. When unemployment is high, some of us do not have a job. And low economic growth makes it harder to get promoted or gain a higher salary. The question is, how much can (and should) the government do to ensure a Goldilocks economy — one with low inflation, strong economic growth, and low unemployment?

A large chunk of America’s economy involves international trade – buying (importing) and selling (exporting) goods and services across national borders. International trade has clear benefits: Americans can purchase a wider range of goods, often cheaper than from domestic producers. Trade also creates new markets for American businesses, allowing them to sell more products, and increasing profits and employment. At the same time, by increasing competition, trade can force American companies out of business and workers out of jobs because of foreign competition. Faced with these benefits and costs, is free trade a good idea – and for whom?