Immigration Policy Levers for US Innovation and Startups

Sari Pekkala Kerr and William Kerr

No 27040, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Immigrants account for about a quarter of US invention and entrepreneurship despite a policy environment that is not well suited for these purposes. This chapter reviews the US immigration policy environment that governs how skilled migrants move to America for employment-based purposes. We discuss points of strain in the current system and potential policy reforms that would likely increase the rate of innovation and the number of startups due to immigrants in the country. Key areas include adjustments to the allocation of permanent residency visas, adjustments to the H-1B visa program, and the creation of an immigrant startup visa.

JEL-codes: F22 F23 J15 J44 J61 L26 M13 O31 O32 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ent, nep-gen, nep-ino, nep-int, nep-lab, nep-mig, nep-sbm and nep-ure
Note: LS PR
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Published as Immigration Policy Levers for US Innovation and Start-Ups , Sari Pekkala Kerr and William R. Kerr. in Innovation and Public Policy , Goolsbee and Jones. 2022

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Chapter: Immigration Policy Levers for US Innovation and Start-Ups (2020)
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