In Markets, People are the Ultimate Resource

by Don Boudreaux on November 24, 2006

in Immigration

This from an editorial in today’s Wall Street Journal:

Everyone knows that Intel, Yahoo, Google, eBay and Sun
Microsystems are wildly successful U.S. technology companies. Less well
known is that immigrant entrepreneurs played a role in founding each
one — and a whole lot of others.

After an election season that featured an unfortunate
amount of anti-immigration posturing, a new study from the National
Venture Capital Association is a welcome reminder that foreign workers
make their fair share of important contributions to our economy.

Titled "American Made: The Impact of Immigrant
Entrepreneurs and Professionals on U.S. Competitiveness," the report
found that "Over the past 15 years, immigrants have started 25 percent
of U.S. public companies that were venture-backed." These businesses
employ some 220,000 people in the U.S. and have a current market
capitalization that "exceeds $500 billion, adding significant value to
the American economy."

Here’s a link to the study.

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  • Trey Tomeny

    "Impact... on U.S. Competitiveness"? The real competition is between the planet and it's inhabitants as we attempt to best harvest resources.


    There is an abundance of resources for all people to enjoy. A key to all of us enjoying them is to develop economic systems that realize there are no immigrants- unless real aliens come, recognizing any distinction between humans based upon accident of birthplace is counterproductive.


    Would it be possible for the policy community to change it's focus from "how are we doing?", meaning people kind of like me who are born sort of close to me- to "how are WE doing?", meaning all of us, planet wide?


    We've found that it is difficult to export a free market culture to the third world- see Iraq, Vietnam, and countless others. Let's at the very least welcome those who are restrained from productivity in their birth society to our society so their produce can benefit the whole planet.


    On a personal level, think of how demeaning it would be if you cooked the food for the party but were not allowed into the party. This is where third worlders find themselves as the prosperous regions of the world welcome their products but not their producers.


    Peace and prosperity are two sides of the same coin.


  • embutler

    the telepone was an immigrant invention...radio...radar.... TV?

    atomic power

  • Badgermike

    The question is did they arrive in this country legally or illegally? I certainly do not have any problem with those who play by the rules. Most, if not all of the "election season that featured an unfortunate amount of anti-immigration posturing" was about the illegal type.

  • shecky

    Does it matter if they are legal or not? Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth...

  • joan

    I am in favor of immigration but I don't like the use of numbers to make arguments supporting policy without context. The total market capitalization in the US stock market is about 40 trillion. By comparison 500 billion is only a little over 1%.

  • TGGP

    The people referenced in this article are not representative of the bulk of immigrants to the United States. In Canada the immigration authorities usually try to select people who will be good for Canada. That is not the case here.

  • I <3 FOBs

  • Badgermike

    Shecky,

    The point I was making is that THEY are here legally. The talk during the election was about illegal immigration, which is a separate issue. What about the other 10-20 Million who are here illegally, have not started great companies, and tend to be a net drain on the economy. I am all for increased immigration of skilled workers via legal routes.

  • ghost

    Let's take it one step further. Why don't we crack down on illegal and legal immigration of people without high school educations in exchange for many more legal immigrant slots for the highly educated and wealthy? Why not change the rules so that the grandparents or adult children of current immigrants have lower priority for immigrant status than PhDs or MDs with no family in the US whatsoever?


    Why not crack down on illegal immigration from South and Central America in exchange for more immigration from China, India, East Asia, and the former Soviet Union?


    My guess is that deal would be easier to sell to current US citizens and would also be welfare improving for the current legal residents of the US.

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