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Brain Drain Across the United States

jec.senate.gov

41–50 of 213 posts

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#41

Interesting... I've only ever heard of brain drain used in an international context. Which is where the US comes out as a winner, as we're gaining from all the highly educated Chinese and Indians who come here to work and start companies. I actually find the concept rather odd to use domestically, because it's generally used to show a contrast between a country paying for your college education, and then you reaping…

Georgia is an interesting outlier here: they introduced the HOPE scholarship in the 1990s to allow any in-state (already lived there for at least a year) student free tuition at a state school as long as they maintained a 3.0 GPA, all funded by the state lottery.

And you have some pretty good schools to choose from here: University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State (which has improved a lot in the past 10 years).

There are plenty of fair criticisms that can be leveled against the HOPE scholarship, but it seemed clear to me that it would reduce brain drain in the state, simply because students could get a high quality education at almost no cost. But these data show that the drain ratio increased from 1990 to 2010.

So this is a situation where students aren't paying for their education, are going to school in the state where they likely grew up, and then are still leaving.

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#42

[flagged]

If you’re wondering where the downvotes are coming from, it’s probably because ad hominem attacks (attacking the person making the argument, rather than directly refuting their arguments; what you’re doing here, basically) are generally considered a logical fallacy.

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#43
post #6

I'm sure I will be downvoted for even mentioning his name, but Charles Murray has been writing about this for decades.

This would be far more positive a contribution if you focused on how and what the author has said rather than anticipating HN's reaction.

Maybe edit or reframe your comment.

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By that logic, we should all be aspiring to live in Upper E. side Manhatten, because, 'why stay anywhere else'. Education is only one factor, there are many others. FYI - 'Worker mobility' in the US is actually declining, and has been for some time. This could possibly mean that regular workers are moving around less, relative to educated one's. It also could mean as communications and transportation become easier, t…

So why should kids with the opportunity to leave choose to stay?

I'm a little shocked at the proposition.

The notion that 'you could feasibly make more money elsewhere, and therefore should leave' is not obvious to me, or I think to most people.

Chicago may have more opportunity than Michigan overall, but that doesn't mean there are not great opportunities in Michigan. But that's within the context of your imperative.

The real answer is that for most people, their job is not the defining artifact of their life, it's a means to support their families, and maybe give them an opportunity to engage with their communities, have hobbies, friends.

I think for young people, in their 20's the notion is a little big different, because moving is exploring and liberating in some ways, but that's only one phase of life.

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#45
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an entirely fair point—there's a fair amount of brain drain that can be attributed to "I don't want to live in a red state." The LGBT thing is anecdotally true in my experience, and in particular, leaving your home state for college is a good socially-acceptable excuse to leave your home state and meet others you suspect are like you at exactly the same time that you're no longer a minor under your parents' c…

Sick leave, parental leave, legal marijuana, assisted suicide, non compete bans, better environmental protections, pro choice, are all desirable to the young people I know and red states go the other way on those policies.

Huh! The fastest growing states in 2018 were: Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Florida and Washington.[1]

[1]https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/estimate...

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#47
I’m from Kentucky, live on the west coast, and I cannot at all sympathize with those from there and similar states if they complain about brain drain. If you boast stupid, backwards policies and only give economic opportunities to the well connected, don’t be surprised when the intelligent but not well connected people leave the state. Maybe I’ll retire to my backwards hometown but I make more than double on the west coast than I could (as an employee) there, so not moving back anytime soon.

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#48

[flagged]

If you’re wondering where the downvotes are coming from, it’s probably because ad hominem attacks (attacking the person making the argument, rather than directly refuting their arguments; what you’re doing here, basically) are generally considered a logical fallacy.

I know where the downvotes are coming from, I have no concern about karma.

That's his voting record, and links to his webpage, and the words are his. I said nothing negative about the man. All I asked is that people read it. You think this brain drain article with his face on it is logically disconnected from his politics?

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#49
post #21

What’s interesting is the world has a brain drain.....and the highly educated adults are going to US. From places like India and China. Don’t believe me? Check this out: Chinese students got beaten down by university securities, for protesting against fake degrees given to them. Happened today https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/bhxgng/chinas_studen...

I'd say there's brain drain even if the workers stay at their country, working remotely for US companies. The most qualified people around me on previous jobs moved to US, Europe or are working remotely (myself included). It's sad because it increases the difficulty of local companies to grow a good team, continuing the cycle.

[deleted]

Re: Brain Drain Across the United States

#50
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sick leave, parental leave, legal marijuana, assisted suicide, non compete bans, better environmental protections, pro choice, are all desirable to the young people I know and red states go the other way on those policies.

Huh! The fastest growing states in 2018 were: Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Florida and Washington.[1] [1] https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/estimate...

Population changes are due to more than just migration. Birth and death rates are also significant factors.
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