Macro Musings with David Beckworth · Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Adam Ozimek on Reforming the High-Skilled Immigration Process

May 12, 2025·59 min·5 clips

Adam Ozimek argues high-skilled immigration should maximize American self-interest, not rely on flawed arguments like job shortages.

This episode of Macro Musings features economist Adam Ozimek discussing his report on reforming high-skilled immigration to maximize U.S. economic benefits. Host David Beckworth and Ozimek share a history from the macroeconomic blogging community that emerged during the Great Recession. Ozimek argues that high-skilled immigration policy should be explicitly designed to serve American self-interest, moving beyond piecemeal tweaks or arguments about labor shortages. The report proposes replacing the H-1B visa with a new skilled worker visa and creating an uncapped EBX green card for workers who maintain high earnings for six years. A central proposal is the Heartland Visa, which would direct skilled immigrants to counties experiencing population decline and economic stagnation. Ozimek cites the current cap of 140,000 employment-based green cards, unchanged since 1990, as creating decade-long backlogs. He notes that high-skilled immigrants are 80% more likely to start a firm and account for about one-third of U.S. innovation output. A surprising claim is that high-skilled immigration currently exacerbates regional disparities by concentrating talent in superstar cities like New York and San Francisco. Ozimek suggests the Heartland Visa could seed new innovation clusters in lower-cost areas, creating a "tour of duty" pathway to a green card. He references a nuanced economic view expressed by former President Trump, describing it as more sophisticated than common "jobs Americans won't do" arguments. The report estimates its proposed reforms could generate a trillion dollars in positive fiscal impact over a decade. Ozimek challenges the "fixed pie" or Malthusian view that immigrants take jobs, arguing population growth fuels specialization and dynamism. He connects declining labor force growth to reduced business formation and higher market concentration, citing research by Hugo Hopenheim. The proposal includes a "Chipmaker's Visa" to support the semiconductor industry by allowing firms to bring workers with specific, valuable tacit knowledge. Ozimek also advocates for an age-adjusted wage system over complex point systems to identify high-value immigrants. The conversation is analytical and forward-looking, grounded in economic research and policy design. The tone is collegial and educational, reflecting the hosts' shared background in economic blogging. This episode is ideal for listeners interested in detailed, economics-driven policy proposals for growth, innovation, and addressing regional inequality. Those seeking a debate on the broader ethics or politics of immigration may find its focused, merit-based framework too narrow.

As heard by us

A careful case for treating high-skilled immigration as a macro issue, not just a border issue.

Macro Musings treats a familiar policy fight as a question of human capital. David Beckwith and Adam Ozmek, drawing on Ozmek's report on high-skilled immigration, link education, university finances, regional dynamism, and the U.S. advantage in attracting top performers.

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Why you'd press play

Why high-skilled immigration still matters for innovation, universities, regional economies, and keeping the U.S. a magnet for top performers.

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