Brain Drain

Impact on Developing Nations

In the mid-20th century, many scientists and other professionals from industrial nations, principally Germany and Great Britain, came to the United States. More recently, however, the brain drain has pulled emigrants from developing nations, including India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and several African nations. They are eligible for what are referred to as H-1B visas, qualifying them for permanent work permits.

One out of four physicians in the United States is foreign-born; these immigrants play a critical role in serving areas with too few doctors. Thousands of skilled, educated Indians now seek to enter the United States, pulled by economic opportunity. The pay differential between the United States and other countries is so great that beginning in 2004, when foreign physicians were no longer favored with entry in the United States, physicians in the Philippines were retraining as nurses so that they could immigrate to the United States, where, employed as nurses, they would earn four times what they would as doctors in the Philippines. Countries undergoing significant political unrest, such as Iran and Iraq, may also be subject to the loss of human capital to other countries. Whether this remains a permanent or ongoing brain drain once the hostilities or unrest ends remains to be seen.

The brain drain controversy was evident long before the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act. However, the 1965 act seemed to encourage such immigration by placing the professions in one of the categories of preference. Various corporations, including Motorola and Intel, now find that one-third of their high-tech jobs are held by people born abroad, although many received their advanced education in the United States. Many foreign students say they plan to return home. Fortunately for the United States, many do not, but rather make their talents available in the United States. One study showed that the majority of foreign students receiving their doctorates in the sciences and engineering are still in the United States 4 years later.

This leads to an ironic situation in which industrial countries mount efforts to assist the very countries that have lost a significant segment of their skilled workforces. Despite these realizations, few have seriously questioned policies that facilitate this drain. During the heated debates of the 21st century concerning immigration reform, few were willing to overhaul H-1B visas except perhaps to expand their numbers.

Impact on Industrial Nations

Critics note that the supply of professionally trained immigrants allows the United States to overlook its minority scholars. At present, for every two minority doctorates, there are five foreign citizens receiving this degree. In the physical sciences, for every doctorate issued to a minority citizen, eleven are received by foreign citizens. Some suggest that more attention should be paid to encouraging African Americans and Latinos to enter high-tech career paths.

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