Macro Musings with David Beckworth Adam Ozimek on Reforming the High-Skilled Immigration Process
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May 12, 2025 
Adam Ozimek, Chief Economist at the Economic Innovation Group, shares insights on high-skilled immigration reform, emphasizing its critical role in economic growth. He discusses the inefficiencies in the current green card system and proposes a new Heartland Visa to rejuvenate struggling areas. Adam also tackles misconceptions about job scarcity linked to immigration. Additionally, he analyzes the impacts of Trump’s trade war, highlighting the disconnect between public sentiment and governmental narratives on tariffs. A fascinating dive into pressing economic issues!
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Great Recession Blogging Origins
- Adam Ozimek and Carl Smith started the prominent blog "Model Behavior" around the Great Recession.
- Their collaboration began with Ozimek posting guest content after being an avid commenter on related economic blogs.
Purpose of High-Skill Immigration
- High-skilled immigration policy should exclusively maximize American economic interests.
- Piecemeal immigration tweaks often rely on uneconomic rationales, weakening their effectiveness.
Fixing Green Card Bottlenecks
- The U.S. green card cap hasn't changed since 1990, causing long backlogs for skilled workers.
- High-skilled workers who earn top 15% wages for six years should get automatic green cards.