November 15, 2006 1:18 PM

Study: Many tech firms launched by immigrants
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 1:18 PM

There has been a lot of talk about immigrants lately, such as building walls on borders to keep out illegal entrants.

But what about legal immigrants? Are they a good thing? And what have they done to contribute to the betterment of society?

Well, here's one answer from today's Globe:

Immigrants have fueled the US entrepreneurial economy, starting one in four venture-backed companies since 1990 and two in five in high technology, according to a study being released today by the National Venture Capital Association trade group.
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"Skilled immigrants are huge multipliers for the United States economy," said Vinit Nijhawan, an Indian-born serial entrepreneur who is now a venture partner at Key Venture Partners in Waltham. "Venture capitalists like to fund big ideas. And you could argue that immigrants are risk oriented and like to take on the big ideas."

New companies mean new jobs, says the study. So the answer to the above question is that they have and are still doing a lot for the American economy.

Read the whole piece.