Last night while driving to a dinner party at the home of a Chinese family was listening to NPR (I am a glutton for punishment) and heard a remarkable and illuminating interview with researcher Vivek Wadhwa on the subject of skilled immigrant workers.
I encourage you to listen to the whole thing. It was mildly difficult to track down but here is the link to the broadcast:
At the end of 2006, more than one million highly skilled immigrant professionals and their families were waiting for permanent resident visas in the United States. But only 120,000 visas are given out every year. A new study by VIVEK WADHWA shows that instead of continuing to wait, foreign-born engineers, scientists and doctors are returning home. Wadhwa explains the cause of the brain drain and why it matters to the U.S. economy.
Bob Edwards Weekend (via Public Radio International) interview with Vivek Wadhwa – April 26, 2009
A common attitude among Americans is “why should we welcome all these immigrants? because they take jobs from Americans”. Wadhwa argues (persuasively) that we should welcome skilled immigrant professionals because of the immense positive contributions they make to the American economy. Wadhwa himself started two companies. One of which employed one thousand people the second employed two hundred.
One immigrant. Twelve hundred jobs. What was that about “taking jobs from Americans”?
So what should be done? Wadhwa offered a proposal so radical so daring – and so delightful. If a skilled immigrant professional buys a house or starts a business that employs at least ten people – they get a green card.
Sound crazy? Think about it. Wadhwa himself notes (paraphrase):
You are looking at one hundred two hundred three hundred thousand houses being sold. Thirty forty fifty thousand businesses being started. You know that’s not bad for the U.S. economy. And guess what it cost us? Zero.
One final note. Edwards kept pressing Wadha about whether immigrants faced xenophobia or other difficulties adapting to American culture. Wadhwa replied – and we should celebrate this – that only about 12% of immigrants (professionals and students) reported any difficulty. In fact the vast majority of those he interviewed/surveyed expressed surprise at how friendly and welcoming Americans are.
Glory to God!
Now maybe this was all propaganda and rubbish and Wadhwa’s research is full of holes. But unless and until someone refutes him – this is powerful stuff.
