Cover IMF Working Papers
Buy Book in Print
Why U.S. Immigration Matters for the Global Advancement of Science
Author:
Ruchir Agarwal
Search for other papers by Ruchir Agarwal in
Current site
Google Scholar Close
,
Patrick Gaulé
Search for other papers by Patrick Gaulé in
Current site
Google Scholar Close
, and
Geoff Smith
Search for other papers by Geoff Smith in
Current site
Google Scholar Close
Series:
IMF Working Papers
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2021: Issue 042
Language:
English
Publication Date:
19 Feb 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513570006.001
ISBN:
9781513570006
ISSN:
1018-5941
Pages:
40
Keywords:
Immigration; Science; Talent; Universities; WP; IMO medalist; migrants to the U.S.; IMO participant; productivity regression; IMO point; Migration; Productivity; Income; Global
Legal-disclaimer:
IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
Download PDF (1.7 MB) Download Epub
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.
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover IMF Working Papers
IMF Working Papers
ISSN:
1018-5941
Publisher:
International Monetary Fund