The Supply Side of Innovation: H‐1B Visa Reforms and U.S. Ethnic Invention
利用H-1B签证政策大幅变化，研究高技能移民对美国技术形成的影响，发现增加H-1B签证名额会提高印度和中国裔移民的科技就业与专利，但对本土科技就业和专利影响有限。
This study evaluates the impact of high-skilled immigrants on U.S. technology formation. We use reduced-form specifications that exploit large changes in the H-1B visa program. Higher H-1B admissions increase immigrant science and engineering (SE) employment and patenting by inventors with Indian and Chinese names in cities and firms dependent upon the program relative to their peers. Most specifications find limited effects for native SE employment or patenting. We are able to rule out displacement effects, and small crowding-in effects may exist. Total SE employment and invention increases with higher admissions primarily through direct contributions of immigrants. (c) 2010 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.