Excerpts:

According to many economists, the presence of immigrant workers in the United States creates new job opportunities for native-born workers. This occurs in five ways. First, immigrant workers and native-born workers often have different skill sets, meaning that they fill different types of jobs. As a result, they complement each other in the labor market rather than competing for the exact same jobs. Second, immigrant workers spend and invest their wages in the U.S. economy, which increases consumer demand and creates new jobs. Third, businesses respond to the presence of immigrant workers and consumers by expanding their operations in the United States rather than searching for new opportunities overseas. Fourth, immigrants themselves frequently create new businesses, thereby expanding the U.S. labor market. Fifth, the new ideas and innovations developed by immigrants fuel economic growth.

Similarly, a recent study found that, between 2005 and 2018, an increase in the share of workers within a particular occupation who were H-1B visa holders was associated with a decrease in the unemployment rate within that occupation. Another recent study found that restrictions on H-1B visas (such as rising denial rates) motivate U.S.-based multinational corporations to decrease the number of jobs they offer in this country. Instead, the corporations increase employment at their existing foreign affiliates or open new foreign affiliates—particularly in India, China, and Canada. A study conducted in 2019 revealed that higher rates of successful H-1B applications were positively correlated with an increased number of patents filed and patent citations. Moreover, such startups were more inclined to secure venture capital funding and achieve successful IPOs or acquisitions.

The available data also indicate that H-1B workers do not earn low wages or drag down the wages of other workers. In 2021, the median wage of an H-1B worker was $108,000, compared to $45,760 for U.S. workers in general. Moreover, between 2003 and 2021, the median wage of H-1B workers grew by 52 percent. During the same period, the median wage of all U.S. workers increased by 39 percent. In FY 2019, 78 percent of all employers who hired H-1B workers offered wages to H-1B visa holders that were higher than what the Department of Labor had determined to be the “prevailing wage” for a particular kind of job.

This wouldn't be happening if the tech companies hadn't shut out so many college grads from entry level jobs. The tech industry had the power to curb h1b abuse but they didn't. This is the consequence.

>The available data also indicate that H-1B workers do not earn low wages or drag down the wages of other workers. In 2021, the median wage of an H-1B worker was $108,000, compared to $45,760 for U.S. workers in general.

You can't compare tech salaries to general salaries. The entire thing seems disingenous.

“Manufacturing consent” should be required reading for all Americans.

These economists expressed the correct viewpoint that benefits the capital class so their viewpoint and credentials are validated and legitimized. “Right-thinking economists” are promoted while economists that have views that dont benefit multinational corporate interest are pushed to the fringes.

This is extremely well documented and when you see it spelled out in the book you will not be able to see the world in the same way.

Lex Friedman was nobody until he published a study that self driving cars were safe while Elon musk was in the midst of legal battles for his cars killing people. Lex Friedman is a “right thinking” academic so next thing you know Elon musk is talking on his podcast calling Lex “the smartest person in the world” despite having almost no credentials.

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