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Not Everyone in Tech Cheers Visa Program for Foreign Workers

2 points by davidf18 10y ago

davidf18 10y ago
"Lawrence F. Katz, a prominent labor economist at Harvard, said companies like the H-1B visa program because it expands the pool of applicants. That means having to pay less in salary and retaining more control over employees. “From the point of view of an economist, there are two big winners,” he added. “The workers who come here with H-1B visas and the companies that employ them.”"
sharemywin 10y ago
Wasn't designed as a way to lower wages.
- davidf18 10y ago
  It is being misused and that has been the problem. Katz said the winners, he did not cite the losers who are the American STEM workers.
  - sharemywin 10y ago
    2 separate issues. Its being abused which is causing Americans to lose out. The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce.
- bediger4000 10y ago
  Come come, we're all adults here! Surely as Americans we all believe in the Laws of Supply and Demand. It's quite simple: increase the supply and prices go down. Decrease supply, or increase demand, and prices go up. Basic free market economics. No matter what official rationale for H-1B visas exists, the primary purpose is to increase supply and lower wages. And it's worked marvelously! Unfortunately, it's not Pareto Efficient, so there will be complaints.
  - sharemywin 10y ago
    It was for gaps in the free market. Raising the minimum will help with it's abuse. The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce by authorizing the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorized to work in the United States. https://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/h1b.htm https://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/h1b.htm
    - bediger4000 10y ago
      I don't believe your statement of intent, by the way. No matter what rationale for H-1B visas exists, the primary purpose is to increase supply and lower wages. And it's worked marvelously! Unfortunately, it's not Pareto Efficient, so there will be complaints.

2 points by davidf18 10y ago

"Lawrence F. Katz, a prominent labor economist at Harvard, said companies like the H-1B visa program because it expands the pool of applicants. That means having to pay less in salary and retaining more control over employees. “From the point of view of an economist, there are two big winners,” he added. “The workers who come here with H-1B visas and the companies that employ them.”"

sharemywin 10y ago

Wasn't designed as a way to lower wages.

davidf18 10y ago
It is being misused and that has been the problem. Katz said the winners, he did not cite the losers who are the American STEM workers.
- sharemywin 10y ago
  2 separate issues. Its being abused which is causing Americans to lose out. The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce.
bediger4000 10y ago
Come come, we're all adults here! Surely as Americans we all believe in the Laws of Supply and Demand. It's quite simple: increase the supply and prices go down. Decrease supply, or increase demand, and prices go up. Basic free market economics. No matter what official rationale for H-1B visas exists, the primary purpose is to increase supply and lower wages. And it's worked marvelously! Unfortunately, it's not Pareto Efficient, so there will be complaints.
- sharemywin 10y ago
  It was for gaps in the free market. Raising the minimum will help with it's abuse. The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce by authorizing the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorized to work in the United States. https://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/h1b.htm https://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/h1b.htm
  - bediger4000 10y ago
    I don't believe your statement of intent, by the way. No matter what rationale for H-1B visas exists, the primary purpose is to increase supply and lower wages. And it's worked marvelously! Unfortunately, it's not Pareto Efficient, so there will be complaints.