Enhancing Economic Growth Through Immigration

Published: January 17, 2019

Immigration has always been a vital component of economic growth in the United States, and certain types of immigrants are more likely to start businesses than others. Younger, more educated immigrants are more likely to be entrepreneurial, as are immigrants who come from countries that haven’t traditionally sent many people to America. The United States could boost its economy if it rebalanced its immigration system to give them a preferred path for green cards.

Discussion Questions

1. What is America’s current immigration policy?
2. What are some other benefits of an open immigration policy?

Additional Resources

• Read “Send Us Your Young, Your Educated” by Edward Lazear in the Wall Street Journal, available here.
• In “Examining America’s Exceptional Economy,” Edward Lazear explores what has made America's economy successful, what sets it apart from other nations, and what needs to be done to sustain its prominence in the global economy. Available here. 
• Hoover Institution senior fellow Edward Lazear discusses immigration and the economy on the Larry Kudlow Show. Listen here.
• Hoover Institution senior fellow Edward Lazear says that the United States will face increasing economic competition from fast-growing countries like China and India while technological advances change the makeup of the job market. To minimize disruption, innovation in our education system and fair immigration policy are necessary. To read more, click here. 
• Read “How Should We Value Immigrants, and How Should That Affect Immigration Reform?” by Edward Lazear, available here.