In a globalized economy, it is very easy for capital to cross national borders. This provides an excellent way for the market to punish governments that over-tax, over-spend, and over-regulate since capital will flow to jurisdictions with less statism. It also is increasingly easy for skilled labor to shift from less competitive nations to those with more opportunity. The United States often is at the top of the list of desired destinations for the world’s best-and-brightest. Unfortunately, even though these skilled workers and entrepreneurs would generate more wealth for America, they often are unable to overcome restrictive immigration laws. Investors’ Business Daily explains how this policy hurts the United States:

America has it all backward. Our country’s doors are open to the low-skilled while we keep out the talent that’s crucial to our competitiveness. …The global economy is a brain game, and the nations with the best-educated work forces are the ones that win. …there’s a talent gap that can be filled only by relaxing restrictions on foreign computer scientists, software engineers and other highly trained workers who want jobs in the U.S. …Much of the work in fields such as software development might still get done offshore. But that would not produce jobs here. More critically in the long run, it would deny America a stream of capable, creative people. For many visa holders, the temporary permit is a step toward permanent residency. Allowed to stay, they may do more than just work here. They may start their own businesses and create work for others. …The issue here isn’t America’s failure to control its borders. It’s that America does too good a job of excluding some of the people it most needs.