Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/243437 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Policy Paper No. 151
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Immigration reform is once again on Washington's policy agenda. Serious attention is being given to policies that would place more emphasis on merit than on family ties, which are favored by much of the current US immigration system. One way to determine merit is a point-based system. This paper argues that auctioning off visas would be preferable to a point-based system. Auctions would promote economic growth, increase government revenue, and lead to a more efficient allocation of visas while reducing discretionary decision making by government officials. This paper outlines several proposals for how to implement visa auctions that could serve as a starting point for designing a better immigration policy. We recommend replacing the current system of employment-based temporary and permanent visas with an employer-centered auction in order to increase the economic gains from immigration.
Subjects: 
immigration
foreign workers
visa auction
JEL: 
F22
J61
J15
D44
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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