should applications from certain countries be given priority?

Answer 1

I will run with the idea you may be talking about immigration applicants. The answer is NO. The problem with that is first it implies politicians are going to be deciding such things. Such policies sound racist. Then there are always something wrong with the way you are thinking - what countries do you choose and for what results, because you wont get those results. Pick well off countries to get high quality people only to have complaints they come over and take our jobs. Pick poor countries only to have them come over and have to spend more time and money to educate them. Pick war countries, only to have them more willing to break the rules because they know what it is like to be in hell and they are willing to do whatever to never be like that again.