Daniel Moss, Columnist

A Turn Against Immigration Would Devastate Australia

Beware the nativist inclination: The economy's 26-year expansion would not have been possible without a huge influx of human capital.

March 15, 2018 at 9:00 PM UTC

By Daniel Moss

Daniel Moss is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. Previously, he was executive editor for economics at Bloomberg News.

Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's prime minister, is leading a one-vote majority.
Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg

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Australia just wrapped up its 26th consecutive year of economic growth. It's always happy to trumpet that, but one major cause doesn't get enough respect.

I'm not talking about the ascent of China, the country's biggest trading partner, which certainly played a part. Nor do I mean Australia's mineral wealth or the fiscal stimulus unleashed in 2008-2009 to fight the global slump.