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The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

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Re: The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

#11
post #3

The academic brain drain starts in middle school. Why are we pushing US kids into bankruptcy and importing brains who come with dollars?

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I think everything America needs to succeed and grow can be found right here in America. The problem is that it's sometimes cheaper to import foreign labor, or export domestic production.

Einstein, von Braun, Musk, Brin.

Immigrants are more than cheap labor.

edit just for a bit more diversity: Madeleine Albright, Schwarzenegger, Ang Lee, Tesla, Fermi, Audrey Hepburn, Sataya Nadella, Jerry Yang, Cary Grant...

edit 2, correction: Ang Lee's Wikipedia page says he's a resident and not a US citizen. Another alien undercutting US labour like James Cameron and Ridley Scott.

Re: The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

#12
post #3

The academic brain drain starts in middle school. Why are we pushing US kids into bankruptcy and importing brains who come with dollars?

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I think everything America needs to succeed and grow can be found right here in America. The problem is that it's sometimes cheaper to import foreign labor, or export domestic production.

I think that's a simplistic view. For one, it can't be cheaper to import than to train/educate locally. But that doesn't stop the local culture from being detrimental to higher learning.

Re: The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

#15
risking? it's been happing for years already. both in the "drain" sense, those leaving the US, and with fewer "brains" coming to the US from other places. also, with the decline in US academics, fewer are being created in the US to begin with. altogether, three different factors making a "brain drain".

Re: The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

#17

While I don't feel that there is risk of brain drain because of the reasons listed in the article, I do believe there is that risk. To be honest, even though many European countries don't pay as much as the US for the same job, I found much more comfort around the ideas pushed in those countries. The culture I found in Sweden for instance is one that is much better for the employees than the fast-paced top-gun style…

Europe is able to do this because the US subsidizes their existence.

1. Pharma companies develop drugs with US subsidies and make their profits off US citizens while European countries put price ceilings on their drugs.

2. US essentially defends the world, allowing other countries to spend money elsewhere.

http://www.ibtimes.com/how-us-subsidizes-cheap-drugs-europe-...

Re: The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

#18
post #4

I don't see a brain drain happening. American academic pay is better than European/Canadian/Australian academic pay by too wide of a margin. As far as politics goes, I don't think America is that much worse (if at all worse) than other high paying countries.

Canada is getting some great talent right now. Americans, Brits, and people who would have gone to the US or UK are coming here. If we can keep them here, this will be a big boost for Canada long term.

Canada doesn't pay half as well as US when it comes to research in STEM. Every country has great talent right now, except US has the money.

Re: The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

#19

While I don't feel that there is risk of brain drain because of the reasons listed in the article, I do believe there is that risk. To be honest, even though many European countries don't pay as much as the US for the same job, I found much more comfort around the ideas pushed in those countries. The culture I found in Sweden for instance is one that is much better for the employees than the fast-paced top-gun style…

Who will buy products from such companies. They will have to compensate for the productivity from somewhere else.

Re: The U.S. is risking an academic brain drain

#20
post #2

What is the point of this article? They've claimed that the person in the article is going back home because he received no teaching offers. That's standard practice for foreign individuals on a visa in the US. You have to be doing something to stay here. We're not going to let you live here just because you felt like you wanted to. --- Other than the politicking going on in the article: "OMG TRUMP IS SO BAD AMIRITE?…

Former senator David Boren writes in his book, Letter to America, that not only does this happen, it's actually a good thing for the United States because many of these US-educated folks go on to become leaders back home.

So if anything, their return to their home countries only solidifies American strength. For the time being, at least.

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