If US/UK had free movement of people agreement

When people ask me where I am from, and I say "California", the response is 9 out of 10 times, "mate, why would you want to be in Nottingham?".  They can't believe that I would choose to live here!  This got me to thinking, and here are my thoughts, would love yours:

There seems to be a lot of people disillusioned with the UK, and I'm talking about native born Brits here.  I suspect that if there were a free movement of people agreements between the UK and the other major English speaking countries, there would be quite an exodus of people under 50 years of age from the UK.

The fact that there are already are a lot of Brits living in Spain or elsewhere in the EU is not really relevant here.  I think because, most Brits, would much easily decide to move to the US, Canada, NZ, or Australia.

When it comes down to it, what is the point of having such strict restrictions on labor between the US(and other English speaking countries). Is it only to have tighter controls on terrorist suspects?  I think there would be a way to handle that even with free movement of people. If two countries are fairly developed, why have the restrictions?

Anyway, that is my theory anyway.  What's yours?

I think that maybe you should move out of Nottingham to a happier part of the UK. Seriously, what I see in rural East Yorkshire is for the most part people who are proud and happy to be here. YMMV.

Andy

I think that the UK is so small compared to the US that British people moving to other EU countries can be compared to Americans moving from their home states to other parts of the US.

A British person moving to Spain is similar to someone from Massachusetts moving to Florida.

In comparison with the US, you can't really travel very far without actually leaving Britain.

Based on what I have read, most of the people who seem to be disillusioned with the UK and want to leave appear to be Daily Mail Readers who want to go back to the days when there were fewer immigrants living in the UK. (I like the irony.)

When people ask me where I am from, and I say "California", the response is 9 out of 10 times, "mate, why would you want to be in Nottingham?".  They can't believe that I would choose to live here!  This got me to thinking, and here are my thoughts, would love yours:

There seems to be a lot of people disillusioned with the UK, and I'm talking about native born Brits here.  I suspect that if there were a free movement of people agreements between the UK and the other major English speaking countries, there would be quite an exodus of people under 50 years of age from the UK.

The fact that there are already are a lot of Brits living in Spain or elsewhere in the EU is not really relevant here.  I think because, most Brits, would much easily decide to move to the US, Canada, NZ, or Australia.

When it comes down to it, what is the point of having such strict restrictions on labor between the US(and other English speaking countries). Is it only to have tighter controls on terrorist suspects?  I think there would be a way to handle that even with free movement of people. If two countries are fairly developed, why have the restrictions?

Anyway, that is my theory anyway.  What's yours?

I wouldn't read self depricating humour as dillusionment about being here. They're funny comments, meant to break ice, I doubt those people seriously can't understand why anyone would ever want to move here.

Try slagging off the UK and see how far you get. It will likely be a case of, we can say negative things about the UK because it's our country and we love it deep down etc but wouldn't want anyone else to complain about it.

I also think people's pereception of somewhere like California will be based on movies and Disneyland, but when actually confronted with the reality of earning a similar amount and living there, it wouldn't be so appealing. I was recently offered a job in LA, it sounded fantastic on paper...but I'm still here in London (and loving it!)

Yeah, I hardly think a mass exodus would ensue, but I'm sure there would be people who would want to take advantage of the opportunity.

As many of us on this forum might be aware of, there's a huge difference between talking about how great living in such-and-such country would be and possessing the right amount of crazy to actually go through with it.   People talk crap all the time about where they live, no matter where they live, but I bet many would love it too much to leave.

Though, I would very much embrace the idea of free movement if only for the very selfish reason that it would make my life a whole heck of a lot easier. 

Are there any economists on here? Is there an economic argument to keep DEVELOPED countries from allowing their work force to work in a different international market?  Surely the terrorist argument that governments use is weak at best?  On a more personal note, how can politicians(on both sides of the atlantic) say that the US/UK relationship is so close, if getting a visa for either place is like trying to break into Fort Knox?

I can definitely see why the UK wouldn't want to enter into a free-movement agreement with the US.  If 1% of the UK population wanted to move to the US and 0.01% of the US population wanted to move to the UK, well, they'd be getting a lot more than they'd be giving and the UK is somewhat more densly populated than the US. 

I can definitely see why the UK wouldn't want to enter into a free-movement agreement with the US.  If 1% of the UK population wanted to move to the US and 0.01% of the US population wanted to move to the UK, well, they'd be getting a lot more than they'd be giving and the UK is somewhat more densly populated than the US. 

Couldn't that same argument be used against the free movement of people between the EU/EEA and the UK? The population of the UK has shot up in the past 6 or 7 years mainly because of the movement of people from Eastern Europe to the UK.

Couldn't that same argument be used against the free movement of people between the EU/EEA and the UK? The population of the UK has shot up in the past 6 or 7 years mainly because of the movement of people from Eastern Europe to the UK.

And look how pleased the British public seems to be about all their new Polish neighbors.  Could you imagine if, in addition to the Poles, 35 or 40 thousand Americans showed up?   

I'm now picturing 40 thousand (Jeff Foxworthy style) rednecks moving to the Cotswolds and inviting their new neighbours 'round to the trailer for a bbq 

The population of the UK has shot up in the past 6 or 7 years mainly because of the movement of people from Eastern Europe to the UK.

That's not what the Office for National Statistics figures show.

I'm now picturing 40 thousand (Jeff Foxworthy style) rednecks moving to the Cotswolds and inviting their new neighbours 'round to the trailer for a bbq 

I love this!


   Though I would love to be able to hop back and forth at will, I doubt we will ever see this happening. As friendly as we all are with each other, I think the policies the countries have are still too different to be able to allow free movement.

Are there any economists on here? Is there an economic argument to keep DEVELOPED countries from allowing their work force to work in a different international market?  Surely the terrorist argument that governments use is weak at best?  On a more personal note, how can politicians(on both sides of the atlantic) say that the US/UK relationship is so close, if getting a visa for either place is like trying to break into Fort Knox

Trust me, I am a fan of free movement, but there is a lot more in play here. Borders aren't meant to keep out terrorists or 'bad' people in general, but to protect a population and economy based on nationalism. If we were a true meritocracy, you wouldn't see arguments rising about 'keeping British jobs for the British,' just as an example. I'm not sure about how people would feel about free movement between the UK and US. As an American in the UK, many times I have been tossed into the category of 'not one of those immigrants [worth complaining about]' Economically, both countries are well off so I don't believe you'll see hoards of Americans or Brits hopping across the pond. What I imagine is that we'll see younger generations temporarily relocating then eventually returning, sort of like a work holiday. I go to uni and I know many people who wouldn't mind living for a few years in the US and would if the visa process wasn't so difficult.

Also, the US/UK special relationship is a bit outdated. Of course, there is something to the relationship between US and UK, but it is not as close as you think. If any country has a special relationship with the US, it's definitely Israel. But mustn't digress too much...

I studied economics and it was my minor and I remember a few things and I have forgotten most.
One advantage of new emigrants coming into a country is they usually don't have anything so they buy major items when they have the money so they have the effect of stimulating the economy. They need work really bad so they will work for a lesser wage until they figure how to move up.
The dream of people moving freely between the US and the UK is mind boggling if you think of the people who would move east to get on the NHS.
As has been said the majority of the population I think want to stay were they are.

. They need work really bad so they will work for a lesser wage until they figure how to move up.

That can be seen as one of the disadvantages in a country where unemployment levels are high.

Also, I know from experience that the idea that immigrants take jobs that natives don't want isn't true. I've known native-born Americans who have taken jobs as janitors, shoe-shiners and dishwashers in the US because they needed the money.

Everyone needs work.

It's an advantage to employers who want cheap labour.