Global Competitiveness
The United States has long been the destination for the world’s most talented immigrants. Despite the last 50 years of technological advancement, American immigration policy has remained virtually unchanged, putting in danger America's global competitiveness. Yesterday's immigration policy no longer meets today’s economic needs. Only about 14 percent of all U.S. green cards are given for economic reasons, compared to more than 60 percent in Canada and Australia. With no dedicated visa for entrepreneurs and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
Immigration reform key to economic revival
Boston.com August 19, 2012 Michael Bloomberg, the independent mayor of New York City, is no one’s idea of a hardline Republican conservative. Media titan Rupert Murdoch, whose empire includes Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, is no one’s idea of a squishy Republican moderate. And Boston Mayor Thomas… Read More
Murdoch, Bloomberg call for GOP to have courage on immigration
Wicked Local August 16, 2012 News Corp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg came to Boston Tuesday to hail immigrants’ contributions to our economic vitality. Touting the findings of a report by the Partnership for a New American Economy, the two cited the shortage… Read More
Bloomberg Wants Election Debate on Immigration
ABC News August 14, 2012 New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg sought Tuesday to ignite debate over immigration among the presidential contenders, saying there was no faster or cheaper way to fix the nation’s economic problems than by abandoning “self-defeating” immigration policies. In an editorial published Tuesday and at appearances… Read More
Mayor Bloomberg rightly renews push for comprehensive immigration reform
Daily News August 14, 2012 A wholehearted good luck to Mayor Bloomberg as he embarks on a fresh push to put immigration-friendly reform on the national agenda. To thrive, the U.S. must welcome the smartest and hardest-working people from all corners of the globe — while enabling those on… Read More
Bloomberg comes to Chicago to spark immigration debate
WBEZ91.5 August 14, 2012 New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to make immigration a bigger issue in the presidential race, and he’s making his case in the candidates’ hometowns. Bloomberg started on Tuesday at a forum in Chicago. The Partnership for a New American Economy hosted the forum and… Read More
Press Release: New Report Highlights the Significant and Growing Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs on New Business Generation and the Creation of American Jobs
Immigrants increasingly likely to start a business – responsible for 28 percent of new U.S. businesses in 2011 – while rate of new business generation among the native-born declines Immigrant businesses collectively generated more than $775 billion in revenue, $100 million in income, and employ… Read More
Open For Business: How Immigrants Are Driving Small Business Creation In The United States
The report, “Open For Business: How Immigrants Are Driving Small Business Creation In The United States,” analyzes the increasing importance of foreign-born entrepreneurs on U.S. economic growth and job creation. Picking up and moving to another country is brave and risky, so perhaps it is not surprising that immigrants are… Read More
H1B Dilemma: As Feds Talk, Skilled Foreign Workers Walk
Boston Business Journal August 3, 2012 It’s been about a year since Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas spoke at length about a new plan to ease work-visa rules and “fuel the nation’s economy and stimulate investment by attracting… Read More
Absurd U.S. Immigration Policies Amount To Economy Sapping Talent Drain
Forbes July 30, 2012 Global demand for advanced degree holders, combined with U.S. immigration policies, is causing America to lose some of the world’s brightest minds. After funding their studies and awarding them degrees, America forces some 50,000 highly educated foreign-born workers out of the country each year. This… Read More
Opinion: Why New York Still Welcomes Immigrants
The Wall Street Journal July 27, 2012 Many states across the U.S. have passed restrictive immigration measures in recent years. But New York under Gov. Andrew Cuomo is bucking the trend. “We are a state of immigrants,” he declared in his 2012 State of the State address. “While other… Read More
Impending Labor Challenges
The United States is facing demographic challenges that endanger its preeminent economic position in the world. An aging workforce threatens the vitality of the labor force. At the same time, the supply of U.S.-trained engineers is lagging behind nearly all other industrialized economies. At a time when tech-heavy and innovation driven industries are driving economic growth, the United States faces the prospect of being left behind.
Table 1: Share of Population Age 65+, 1996, 2006, 2016 and projected 2030
Table 2: Share of Undergrads Studying Engineering
Prioritizing Economic Needs
Many countries have identified the link between immigration and economic growth. For many, such moves are a matter of necessity–the domestic labor force is not sufficient for an expanding economy, and aging populations and declining fertility rates are creating labor shortages. Despite facing some of the same challenges, U.S. immigration policy has not changed to reflect our economy’s evolving needs.
Table 3: Percentage of All Permanent Residency Visas Given for Economic Reasons*
Need for a Start-Up Visa
Countries around the world, from France, to Chile, to Singapore have created visas aimed at attracting promising entrepreneurs and job creators. Despite concerns about meager job creation and business growth, however, the United States has not taken a similar step, endangering our position in the global race for talent. This situation was made worse in 2017 when the administration took the first steps to kill the International Entrepreneur Rule, a measure that would have allowed entrepreneurs with outside funding to remain in the country for 2.5 years to establish their businesses.
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