Failing to tackle the causes of immigration

SOMETIMES countries throw money at problems rather than taking hard decisions and changing their policies.

The International Organisation on Migration has just published a study that shows up this very clearly. Called "Bordering on Control" it looked at the money five industrial countries spend on keeping out immigrants.

The countries are among the world's richest Germany, Britain, Netherlands, Canada and the US. Their research discovered that between them these five spend about €16 billion a year in enforcing immigration laws and caring for asylum seekers.