Migrant Midwest: The Case for Immigration and Economic Growth in the American Heartland

— —

Dr. Jonathan Mann Burkham

Migrant Midwest

Name: Migrant Midwest
Price: 55 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9798216276098

The Case for Immigration and Economic Growth in the American Heartland

Dr. Jonathan Mann Burkham

$55

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We will update you on expected arrival time to us. If this delay is too long, please let us know within 2 business days and we can give you options regarding cancelling or adjusting your order. More details on cancelling your order can be found in our Terms of Trade.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Bloomsbury Academic
30 April 2026

Migration, immigration & emigration; Human geography

The American heartland is poised for a demographic decline with very real consequences. Migrant Midwest tracks the history of population growth and its projected decline in the Midwest to highlight the need for increased international migration to the region. Burkham first illustrates how the forces of fertility and migration drove the development of the region’s agricultural and industrial economies, and how the region has more recently struggled with deindustrialization, outmigration, and declining fertility, a global trend. The Midwest is now the slowest-growing region in the country and has the lowest share of immigrants, contributing to stagnation at the national level. Burkham goes on to evaluate the impact of demographic decline on the regional labor market and its fiscal implications for cities, states, and the nation. His thoughtful analysis highlights global trends in fertility decline and raises doubts about the prospect of significantly boosting fertility in modern society.

This timely book proposes a bipartisan model of immigration reform designed to replenish the region’s workforce and population, stabilizing communities and fueling a manufacturing renaissance. It takes seriously concerns that increases in immigration may be harmful to some Americans by presenting a nuanced view of how immigrants are integrated into local labor markets and society more generally. Ultimately, Burkham makes an argument for assimilation through residential integration. He concludes by suggesting that the coming “demographic winter” is a choice between managed decline and a more forward-looking vision of abundance that is consistent with the country’s character as a nation of immigrants.

By: Dr. Jonathan Mann Burkham
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 232mm, Width: 158mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 440g
ISBN: 9798216276098
Pages: 184
Publication Date: 30 April 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Figures Introduction: A Population Geography for the Heartland Chapter 1: The Settlement Wave (1800-1860) Chapter 2: The Multicultural Industrial Heartland (1860-1920) Chapter 3: “America First:” Southerners and Suburbs in the Midwest (1920-1965) Chapter 4: The Relative Decline of the Heartland (1965-2010) Chapter 5: Demographic Winter is Setting In Chapter 6: From Demographic Dividends to Deficits Chapter 7: The Midwest Works, It Just Needs Workers Chapter 8: Make Immigration Legal Again: A Place-Based Policy for the Heartland Chapter 9: The New Geography of Immigrant Assimilation Conclusion: Choosing a Nation of Immigrants Bibliography About the Author

Jonathan Mann Burkham, a Midwesterner by birth and disposition, is associate professor of human geography at University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. His research, which has taken him to live and work in Mexico and Peru, explores the intersection of economic development and migration with a focus on how labor markets are affected by demographic trends. While he likes to imagine himself a world traveler and mountain man, Burkham more often spends his time running the hills and greenways near his home on Lake Michigan. He lives in Milwaukee with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews for Migrant Midwest: The Case for Immigration and Economic Growth in the American Heartland

A sweeping, well-researched argument for 'choosing a nation of immigrants.' * Kirkus Reviews * “Jonathan Burkham is an American, not an American’t, a thinker interested in solving problems instead of just complaining about them. One of the biggest problems facing the country is the decline of the Midwest. Burkham shows that there is an easy fix: place-based immigration visas to restore healthy economic and population growth. And he sells this common-sense fix as well as anyone could. Anyone who cares about the future of the Heartland should read this book.” * Bryan D. Caplan, Professor of Economics, George Mason University, USA *