XX RDB Lecture
“Why Immigration Policy Is Hard And How to Make It Better”
by Alan Manning
29 September 2026
Bocconi University – Room AS01
Via Roentgen 1, floor -2
5:00 p.m.
We are pleased to host a lecture by Professor Alan Manning on immigration policy, drawing extensively on his recent book, Why Immigration Policy Is Hard: And How to Make It Better.
Immigration policy presents governments with inherently difficult choices and unavoidable trade-offs. Recognising this complexity, however, does not mean that effective action is impossible. Instead, it calls for a more rigorous, evidence-based and transparent approach to policymaking. Moving beyond simplified views that describe immigration as either wholly beneficial or wholly detrimental, the lecture will explore why modern states both need immigration and, at the same time, establish rules governing admission and selection.
Drawing on a wide body of international research, the lecture will review the evidence on the economic and social impacts of immigration — including effects on employment, wages, taxation, public services, and local communities — and consider how political dynamics influence policy decisions. The aim is to provide a balanced and analytically grounded perspective on why immigration policy is difficult, and to outline practical directions for improving its design and implementation.
The live stream will begin at 5:00 p.m. Join us here to watch the lecture live.
Alan Manning is Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and one of the leading scholars in labour economics. His research focuses on labour markets, wage determination, inequality, and migration, with particular attention to how labour market institutions and public policies shape outcomes for workers and employers. From 2016 to 2020, he served as Chair of the UK’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the independent body that advises the UK government on migration policy.
Alan Manning has published widely in leading academic journals and is the author of influential books on labour markets and public policy. His work combines rigorous economic analysis with close engagement with real-world policy challenges, making him a prominent voice in debates on immigration, labour markets, and economic inequality.
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