Why U.S. Immigration Matters for the Global Advancement of Science
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Summary:
This paper studies the impact of U.S. immigration barriers on global knowledge production. We present four key findings. First, among Nobel Prize winners and Fields Medalists, migrants to the U.S. play a central role in the global knowledge network—representing 20-33% of the frontier knowledge producers. Second, using novel survey data and hand-curated life-histories of International Math Olympiad (IMO) medalists, we show that migrants to the U.S. are up to six times more productive than migrants to other countries—even after accounting for talent during one’s teenage years. Third, financing costs are a key factor preventing foreign talent from migrating abroad to pursue their dream careers, particularly for talent from developing countries. Fourth, certain ‘push’ incentives that reduce immigration barriers—by addressing financing constraints for top foreign talent—could increase the global scientific output of future cohorts by 42 percent. We concludeby discussing policy options for the U.S. and the global scientific community.
Series:
Working Paper No. 2021/042
Subject:
Climate policy Education Income Migration National accounts Population and demographics Production Productivity
Frequency:
regular
English
Publication Date:
February 19, 2021
ISBN/ISSN:
9781513570006/1018-5941
Stock No:
WPIEA2021042
Pages:
40
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