The Flow of Talented People between US and Asia

Introduction

Brain drain is a term used to describe the movement of highly skilled and educated migrants from one country to another, typically from a less developed to a more developed country that offers greater employment opportunities, higher wages, and/or greater political stability. When skilled workers migrate from developing economies, a phenomenon known as brain drain, they do so for professional opportunities and economic reasons. They are drawn to the United States by many factors: top-quality universities, dynamic companies, an open, merit-based economic system, the social environment, and the standard of living. This “brain drain” has become a serious problem for developing countries. (Saskia , 63)

The prime minister of Bangladesh, a nation that has lost up to 50 percent of its most highly trained citizens (over 8,000 top professionals), noted that the education of these people cost his nation $168.5 million, at $20,000 per person. Yet the U.S. foreign aid Bangladesh received during the same period totalled $116.3 million. Brain drain frequently represents a net loss to developing nations. Especially noteworthy is the emigration of scientists, IT specialists and engineers from India, Pakistan, China, Egypt, and Korea. This paper discusses the flow of talented people between US and Asia and how it affect the US economy and evaluation mechanism.

Discussion

Because of the salary and research opportunities available, the United States continues to attract scientists and engineers from other countries (Table A). It should be noted that the biggest amount of the engineers and scientists entering the USA as full time inhabitants came from Asia (Figure A). In 2009, among foreign-born science and engineering degree holders living in the United States, the top two places of birth were India and China. Table B illustrates the scope of the brain drain. (Wong, 699-726,)

Reason Behind Brain Drain

Brain Drain is mainly caused by pull factors that are developments and circumstances that attract people to specific areas or countries. Freedom has always been a significant pull factor, both within countries and across international boundaries. Freedom, associated with cities, enticed many individuals to leave the countryside with its relative lack of freedom. Freedom in Britain, Holland, and the United States has served as a magnet for European migrants and, more recently, for migrants from the developing world. Religious, artistic, economic, political, and scientific freedoms remain almost irresistible pull factors, which, in turn, usually enhance the degree of freedom that existed. New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Miami, and Boston are vibrant and dynamic because of the freedom that characterizes them and attracts talent and financial resources from around the world. Economic opportunities are one of the most powerful pull factors. People have historically migrated to industrial areas that offered employment and financial and entrepreneurial opportunities. Income inequality between rural and urban areas or between developing and developed countries generally induces people to migrate to seek higher income. (Beine, 275-89)

Impact of Brain Drain on the United States

The United States permits temporary admission of ...