Reviewed in Ethics; featured at Marginal Revolution; subject of Author Meets Critics (Politics, Philosophy and Economics Conference)
My first book explores the ethics of discrimination to examine the ethics of immigration selection on the basis of identity. I argue that it is often morally permissible to exclude people based on their identity. Despite this finding, a major implication of the book’s arguments and analysis is that it is not plausible to think states have the moral “right to exclude”. Thus, I conclude by demonstrating why states are not unilaterally morally entitled to make decisions about whom to admit into their borders.
‘The Routledge Handbook of the Ethics of Immigration, edited by Sahar Akhtar, is the best collection on its topic.’ – Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution
My edited book brings together ethicists and economists writing on immigration. It explores the latest issues—including climate change’s impact on migration, the effects of immigration on domestic wages, and immigration detention and enforcement—along with core themes—such as whether there is a moral right to migrate and nationalist bases for excluding people.
Cruel Work
My latest book project examines the ethical, social and economic implications of industries where workers are required to engage in acts of (sometimes significant) cruelty toward others.
Sahar Akhtar 