Alexander Kustov
@akoustov.bsky.social
Author of "In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular": http://tinyurl.com/4rwpr6dc. Substack at "Popular by Design": https://tinyurl.com/b93bwr9j. Professor. More at https://alexanderkustov.org/.
Japan feels "uncanny" to many visitors not because it's exotic but because things work there.
My new post reflects on my Tokyo sabbatical, and how this experience overturned my assumptions about cultural differences, the threat of depopulation, and the benefits of immigration in Europe and America.
My new post reflects on my Tokyo sabbatical, and how this experience overturned my assumptions about cultural differences, the threat of depopulation, and the benefits of immigration in Europe and America.
November 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Japan feels "uncanny" to many visitors not because it's exotic but because things work there.
My new post reflects on my Tokyo sabbatical, and how this experience overturned my assumptions about cultural differences, the threat of depopulation, and the benefits of immigration in Europe and America.
My new post reflects on my Tokyo sabbatical, and how this experience overturned my assumptions about cultural differences, the threat of depopulation, and the benefits of immigration in Europe and America.
Public intellectuals these days are not like they used to be.
"Outgroup" is just "not the ingroup" for whatever identity line you draw. Immigrants, billionaires, fans of the "wrong" abstract painter all can be an outgroup. Power differences aren't required (contrary to the term "minority").
"Outgroup" is just "not the ingroup" for whatever identity line you draw. Immigrants, billionaires, fans of the "wrong" abstract painter all can be an outgroup. Power differences aren't required (contrary to the term "minority").
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Public intellectuals these days are not like they used to be.
"Outgroup" is just "not the ingroup" for whatever identity line you draw. Immigrants, billionaires, fans of the "wrong" abstract painter all can be an outgroup. Power differences aren't required (contrary to the term "minority").
"Outgroup" is just "not the ingroup" for whatever identity line you draw. Immigrants, billionaires, fans of the "wrong" abstract painter all can be an outgroup. Power differences aren't required (contrary to the term "minority").
Just so nobody is excluded, we now also got a good contender for a "libertarian" variety of populism blaming "overregulation" as the single cause responsible for all societal problems. To be clear, this is still not factually accurate.
November 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Just so nobody is excluded, we now also got a good contender for a "libertarian" variety of populism blaming "overregulation" as the single cause responsible for all societal problems. To be clear, this is still not factually accurate.
Genuinely curious, what generates money if not people and their labor from your point of view? Is it really controversial to say that richer people generate more tax money in absolute dollars? I also never said it would "cease to exist" -- there would be just less money to tax.
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Genuinely curious, what generates money if not people and their labor from your point of view? Is it really controversial to say that richer people generate more tax money in absolute dollars? I also never said it would "cease to exist" -- there would be just less money to tax.
Left-wing vs right-wing populism in one picture.
This couldn't have been more perfect. Ignoring tradeoffs and blaming the main outgroup as the solution to every societal problem.
This couldn't have been more perfect. Ignoring tradeoffs and blaming the main outgroup as the solution to every societal problem.
November 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Left-wing vs right-wing populism in one picture.
This couldn't have been more perfect. Ignoring tradeoffs and blaming the main outgroup as the solution to every societal problem.
This couldn't have been more perfect. Ignoring tradeoffs and blaming the main outgroup as the solution to every societal problem.
I haven't seen this discussed much before: Japan's promising "training-based" immigration model, which can complement more traditional selective, skills-based pathways.
We often forget that skills can be gained, and often better so on the job than at school.
www.foreignaffairs.com/japan/japans...
We often forget that skills can be gained, and often better so on the job than at school.
www.foreignaffairs.com/japan/japans...
November 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I haven't seen this discussed much before: Japan's promising "training-based" immigration model, which can complement more traditional selective, skills-based pathways.
We often forget that skills can be gained, and often better so on the job than at school.
www.foreignaffairs.com/japan/japans...
We often forget that skills can be gained, and often better so on the job than at school.
www.foreignaffairs.com/japan/japans...
If you accept that (immigration) attitudes are often sociotropic, it's not surprising that people can be concerned about something even if they don't encounter or suffer from it personally.
goodauthority.org/news/can-tru...
goodauthority.org/news/can-tru...
November 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
If you accept that (immigration) attitudes are often sociotropic, it's not surprising that people can be concerned about something even if they don't encounter or suffer from it personally.
goodauthority.org/news/can-tru...
goodauthority.org/news/can-tru...
Is our immigration good or bad? That may be the wrong question. Instead, we should talk more about how to make it better.
It was a pleasure talking to Kelsey Piper about what voters want for another great immigration piece on automating admissions.
It was a pleasure talking to Kelsey Piper about what voters want for another great immigration piece on automating admissions.
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Is our immigration good or bad? That may be the wrong question. Instead, we should talk more about how to make it better.
It was a pleasure talking to Kelsey Piper about what voters want for another great immigration piece on automating admissions.
It was a pleasure talking to Kelsey Piper about what voters want for another great immigration piece on automating admissions.
A striking chart from Tony Keller that puts the recent US immigration surge in perspective.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
October 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
A striking chart from Tony Keller that puts the recent US immigration surge in perspective.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Migration needs more common ground!?
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
October 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Migration needs more common ground!?
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Neither Democrats nor Republicans grasp how needlessly difficult the current legal process is even for the supposedly simplest, uncontested case of spousal immigration.
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
October 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Neither Democrats nor Republicans grasp how needlessly difficult the current legal process is even for the supposedly simplest, uncontested case of spousal immigration.
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
What counts as progress on immigration when we can't even agree on the basics? In my new essay, I argue that durable progress requires compromise and suggest possible shared benchmarks with a focus on state capacity.
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
October 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
What counts as progress on immigration when we can't even agree on the basics? In my new essay, I argue that durable progress requires compromise and suggest possible shared benchmarks with a focus on state capacity.
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Good summary of the H-1B situation by @sampeak.bsky.social
September 21, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Good summary of the H-1B situation by @sampeak.bsky.social
Public support for skilled immigration is unusually strong. Some polls find "admitting more high-skilled immigrants" to be one of the few immigration ideas with bipartisan agreement.
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
September 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Public support for skilled immigration is unusually strong. Some polls find "admitting more high-skilled immigrants" to be one of the few immigration ideas with bipartisan agreement.
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
My hottest take of the day for the survey methods & immigration crowd:
Conjoint experiments on immigrant profile choice are not a good way to know whether refugees are more popular than economic immigrants (or any other descriptive Q about immigration policy preferences).
Conjoint experiments on immigrant profile choice are not a good way to know whether refugees are more popular than economic immigrants (or any other descriptive Q about immigration policy preferences).
September 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
My hottest take of the day for the survey methods & immigration crowd:
Conjoint experiments on immigrant profile choice are not a good way to know whether refugees are more popular than economic immigrants (or any other descriptive Q about immigration policy preferences).
Conjoint experiments on immigrant profile choice are not a good way to know whether refugees are more popular than economic immigrants (or any other descriptive Q about immigration policy preferences).
Humbled to receive an honorable mention for the Emergent Scholar Award (Migration & Citizenship) at #APSA2025 in Vancouver.
Grateful for the recognition and inspired by the new generation of scholars doing outstanding work, giving me hope for our field amid all the challenges.
Grateful for the recognition and inspired by the new generation of scholars doing outstanding work, giving me hope for our field amid all the challenges.
September 15, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Humbled to receive an honorable mention for the Emergent Scholar Award (Migration & Citizenship) at #APSA2025 in Vancouver.
Grateful for the recognition and inspired by the new generation of scholars doing outstanding work, giving me hope for our field amid all the challenges.
Grateful for the recognition and inspired by the new generation of scholars doing outstanding work, giving me hope for our field amid all the challenges.
Why isn't private refugee sponsorship more widespread?
Not for the lack of willing sponsors—though a minority, millions of people would likely help if it were legal.
The real constraint is state capacity and resolve.
Not for the lack of willing sponsors—though a minority, millions of people would likely help if it were legal.
The real constraint is state capacity and resolve.
September 8, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Why isn't private refugee sponsorship more widespread?
Not for the lack of willing sponsors—though a minority, millions of people would likely help if it were legal.
The real constraint is state capacity and resolve.
Not for the lack of willing sponsors—though a minority, millions of people would likely help if it were legal.
The real constraint is state capacity and resolve.
Fun fact:
Aside from Dreamers, private refugee sponsorship was basically the only pro-immigration policy supported by a majority of Republicans during the Biden years.
Aside from Dreamers, private refugee sponsorship was basically the only pro-immigration policy supported by a majority of Republicans during the Biden years.
September 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Fun fact:
Aside from Dreamers, private refugee sponsorship was basically the only pro-immigration policy supported by a majority of Republicans during the Biden years.
Aside from Dreamers, private refugee sponsorship was basically the only pro-immigration policy supported by a majority of Republicans during the Biden years.
I'll be at #APSA2025 in Vancouver next week. Come say hi and join our "Author Meets Critics" panel on "In Our Interest" on Friday at 4 pm!
September 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I'll be at #APSA2025 in Vancouver next week. Come say hi and join our "Author Meets Critics" panel on "In Our Interest" on Friday at 4 pm!
In most countries, people who want to help refugees can't do so legally.
My new piece explores how the idea of private sponsorship empowers citizens to channel their humanitarian motivations, and why that can make refugee admissions more sustainable.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-dont-y...
My new piece explores how the idea of private sponsorship empowers citizens to channel their humanitarian motivations, and why that can make refugee admissions more sustainable.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-dont-y...
September 3, 2025 at 1:39 PM
In most countries, people who want to help refugees can't do so legally.
My new piece explores how the idea of private sponsorship empowers citizens to channel their humanitarian motivations, and why that can make refugee admissions more sustainable.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-dont-y...
My new piece explores how the idea of private sponsorship empowers citizens to channel their humanitarian motivations, and why that can make refugee admissions more sustainable.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-dont-y...
Thrilled to see the first review of my book in International Migration Review:
"In Our Interest is a gift... Empirically rigorous, theoretically generative, and normatively pragmatic, [it] is that rare book that will reshape the debate."
By @annjiang.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1177/0197...
"In Our Interest is a gift... Empirically rigorous, theoretically generative, and normatively pragmatic, [it] is that rare book that will reshape the debate."
By @annjiang.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1177/0197...
August 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Thrilled to see the first review of my book in International Migration Review:
"In Our Interest is a gift... Empirically rigorous, theoretically generative, and normatively pragmatic, [it] is that rare book that will reshape the debate."
By @annjiang.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1177/0197...
"In Our Interest is a gift... Empirically rigorous, theoretically generative, and normatively pragmatic, [it] is that rare book that will reshape the debate."
By @annjiang.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1177/0197...
August 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The good folks at Concordia's Institute for Research on Migration and Society turned my recent Foreign Affairs piece into four infographics--check it out!
August 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The good folks at Concordia's Institute for Research on Migration and Society turned my recent Foreign Affairs piece into four infographics--check it out!
Some folks have asked: if voters across the spectrum support skilled immigration, why isn't it happening?
My new piece unpacks the possible answers, and what it all means for making other immigration popular.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-skille...
My new piece unpacks the possible answers, and what it all means for making other immigration popular.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-skille...
August 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Some folks have asked: if voters across the spectrum support skilled immigration, why isn't it happening?
My new piece unpacks the possible answers, and what it all means for making other immigration popular.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-skille...
My new piece unpacks the possible answers, and what it all means for making other immigration popular.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-skille...
I have a new essay in @foreignaffairs.com: no democracy has ever eased widespread immigration concerns without being very selective about whom it admits. To move forward on the issue, governments should make better policies whose benefits to voters are clear.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
August 13, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I have a new essay in @foreignaffairs.com: no democracy has ever eased widespread immigration concerns without being very selective about whom it admits. To move forward on the issue, governments should make better policies whose benefits to voters are clear.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...