Immigration Boosts US Economic Competitiveness: Innovation, Trade, and Flexibility

Immigration gives the United States an economic edge in the world economy. Immigrants bring innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to the U.S. economy. They provide business contacts to other markets, enhancing America's ability to trade and invest profitably in the global economy. They keep our economy flexible, allowing U.S. producers to keep prices down and to respond to changing consumer demands. An authoritative 1997 study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) concluded that immigration delivered a 'significant positive gain' to the U.S. economy. In testimony before Congress last year, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan said, 'I've always argued that this country has benefited immensely from the fact that we draw people from all over the world.'