Re:America’s Need for Skilled Immigrants Isn’t Going Away
by SilasX on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @03:05PM
(#18295390)
Immigration policy has to balance two concerns: letting in unassimilated immigrants too quickly, and missing out on the economic value they bring. Therefore, it should optimize for economic value added per unassimilated immigrant. The harm of adding to the unassimilated population must be justified by the value brought.
Bringing in a lot of foreign civil engineers may be more total economic value brought in, but in a way that doesn't justify the cost in unassimilated people.
An "auction" by how much employers are willing to pay is indeed much closer to what the policy is trying to optimize for.
The lower-paid high-skill jobs should not be using the scarce H1-B spots, but should raise wages to draw more Americans, since the premium is much lower than you'd need to hire an American for the higher-paid jobs.
Bringing in a lot of foreign civil engineers may be more total economic value brought in, but in a way that doesn't justify the cost in unassimilated people.
An "auction" by how much employers are willing to pay is indeed much closer to what the policy is trying to optimize for.
The lower-paid high-skill jobs should not be using the scarce H1-B spots, but should raise wages to draw more Americans, since the premium is much lower than you'd need to hire an American for the higher-paid jobs.