Consulting | 18 Sep 2018
The Fiscal Impact of Immigration on the UK
Economic Consulting Team
Oxford Economics
European migrants living in the UK contribute £2,300 more to public purse each year than the average adult, suggesting a net contribution of £78,000 to the exchequer over their lifespan in the UK.
In preparation for Brexit, the government asked its Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to report on the economic and social impacts of EU migrants in the UK. The MAC commissioned Oxford Economics to analyse the fiscal implications of immigration using the most up-to-date data and sophisticated modelling techniques.
The resulting study, The Fiscal Impact of Immigration on the UK, represents the most comprehensive assessment to date of the net contribution that all migrants make to the UK’s public finances.
The study finds that
- The average UK-based migrant from Europe contributed approximately £2,300 more to UK public finances in 2016/17 than the average UK adult. In comparison, each UK born adult contributed £70 less than the average, and each non-European migrant contributed over £800 less than the average.
- The average European migrant arriving in the UK in 2016 will contribute £78,000 more than they take out in public services and benefits over their time spent in the UK (assuming a balanced national budget), and the average non-European migrant will make a positive net contribution of £28,000 while living here. By comparison, the average UK citizen’s net lifetime contribution in this scenario is zero.
- Taken together, this means that the migrants who arrived in 2016 will make a total net positive contribution of £26.9 billion to the UK’s public finances over the entirety of their stay. The value of this to the UK’s public finances is equivalent to putting approximately 5p on income tax rates (across all marginal rate bands) in that year.
About the team
Our economic consulting team are world leaders in quantitative economic analysis, working with clients around the globe and across sectors to build models, forecast markets and evaluate interventions using state-of-the art techniques.
Related Services
Post
The Environmental Impact of Digital Over Cash Payments in Europe
On behalf of the European Digital Payment Industry Alliance (EDPIA), our report on “The Environmental Impact of Digital over Cash Payments in Europe” seeks to evaluate carbon emissions across payment systems at point of sales.
Find Out More
Post
HP Study: Leveraging technology to meet sustainability and community goals
In late 2023, in collaboration with HP, Oxford Economics conducted a survey to better understand how businesses and governments globally are working to meet sustainability and community goals.
Find Out More
Post
FinTech 2025+
Developed in partnership with Convera and The Paypers, this insightful report analyses the current and future state of the fintech sector, emphasizing the crucial role of cross-border payments in international trade and finance. As global commerce evolves in the digital era, alongside rapidly shifting consumer and business expectations, the need for innovative, efficient and secure payment methods that cater to an interconnected world becomes ever more urgent.
Find Out More