The Impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on the U.S. Economy

his study examines the long-run impact of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act on the U.S. economy. The Act reduced the size of the Chinese population and employment across all major economic sectors, and lowered the incomes the Chinese who remained. Contrary to the expectations of the proponents of the Act, it also reduced the employment and incomes of both white workers, native-born ones as well as immigrants. The Act had sharp negative effects on manufacturing and agriculture. The large negative effect was concentrated in the western United States and persisted until at least 1940.