An author on NPR was trying to explain why Israel has such a successful economy in spite of other adverse circumstances. His thesis in bullet-point form:
- To have sustained economic growth, you need sustained productivity increases.
- Improvements in technology have historically been the best way to increase productivity.
- Innovation in technology most often comes from small companies, less than 500 people.
- The type of people who start and join these companies are risk-takers.
- Immigrants are risk-takers.
- Israel is a nation of immigrants that continues to actively encourage immigration.
- Israel has more start-ups per capita than anywhere else (1 start-up per 1,100 residents) and a healthy economy.
I think he's on to something and I'm afraid the United States is doing it wrong.
We let foreign students come here to study, but make it difficult for them to stay. Letting people contribute to the American economy should be easy.
I actually think the process should be easy whether the immigrant is smart or not. Immigrants want to work. And they might have really bright kids.
This concludes "ur doin it wrong part 1". In part 2 (if I remember) I'll explore water-use in agriculture and how Israel manages to cultivate dry sand.
