The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
Immigrants’ Recent Effects on Government Budgets: 1994–2023
English Summary
From 1994 to 2023, U.S. immigrants—including both legal and undocumented populations—generated a cumulative fiscal surplus of $14.5 trillion, significantly reducing national budget deficits and lowering the debt-to-GDP ratio. This positive impact stems from immigrants' higher labor force participation rates and higher per capita tax contributions combined with lower consumption of government benefits like Social Security and education compared to the U.S.-born population. The study concludes that immigration has functioned as a critical buffer against a national debt crisis, suggesting that restrictive immigration policies would likely exacerbate fiscal instability rather than resolve it.
中文摘要
1994年至2023年間，包括合法與無證人口在內的美國移民共創造了14.5兆美元的累積財政盈餘，顯著減少了國家預算赤字並降低了債務佔GDP的比率。這種積極影響源於移民較高的勞動力參與率和人均稅收貢獻，且相較於美國本土出生人口，他們對社會安全和教育等政府福利的消耗較低。研究結論指出，移民已成為應對國家債務危機的關鍵緩衝，並暗示限制性移民政策可能會加劇財政不穩定，而非解決問題。
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