The debate to which economic migration gave rise was between liberals, who upheld the principle of the free movement of labor, and those who wanted restrictions on movement among countries in order to protect jobs, culture, and/or political cohesion.
Het debat dat migratie teweegbracht ging tussen liberalen, die het principe van vrij verkeer van arbeid hooghielden, en zij die beperkingen wilden op migratie tussen landen om banen, cultuur, en/of politieke cohesie te beschermen.