Diversity, Talent, and Innovation

“For people who appreciate cultural diversity and want to live in tolerant, open societies, the cosmopolitan vibrancy of cities like London and New York is a big attraction. Diversity thus acts as a magnet for talent, which in turn spurs economic growth. In “The Rise of the Creative Class,” Richard Florida documents how “regional economic growth is powered by creative people, who prefer places that are diverse, tolerant and open to new ideas.” […]The biggest economic benefit of diversity is that it stimulates new ideas, which are the source of most economic growth, which in turn pays for the good schools, hospitals and other public goods that we value.

The exceptional individuals who come up with brilliant new ideas often are immigrants. Instead of following the conventional wisdom, immigrants tend to have a different point of view and notice new details. As outsiders, they are more determined to succeed. Of Britain’s Nobel-prize winners, 21 arrived in the country as refugees.

Most innovations nowadays come not from individuals, but from groups of talented people sparking off each other – and foreigners with different ideas, perspectives and experiences add something extra to the mix. If there are 10 people sitting around a table trying to come up with a solution to a problem and they all think alike, then they are no better than one. But if they all think differently and bounce new ideas and reactions off one another, they can solve problems better and faster, as a growing volume of research shows.” Philippe Legrain, “Cosmopolitan Masala: Diversity Enriches Us All.”