The Utilitarian Case for Open Borders

This chapter examines the utilitarian case for open borders, which argues that allowing each state to close its doors to all outsiders has horrible consequences. It considers three concerns about giving each state power to limit immigration: it results in gross economic inefficiencies, economic inequality, and political tyranny. Based on these arguments, utilitarianism appears to be advantageous if states are stripped of the right to set their own immigration policies. The chapter outlines a number of reasons why the utilitarian case is not convincing. For example, if one also factors in potential costs of denying states control over their territorial boundaries, it becomes much less clear that there would be a net gain to such a move. Moreover, the deontological nature of the right to political self-determination entails that a state may withstand such appeals to overall efficiency and other mere consequential considerations.