UCSD report challenges ‘brain drain’ myth, finds high-skilled emigration boosts global prosperity
When the U S increased nursing visa access for Filipinos enrollment in nursing schools surged according to the review Photo courtesy of County News Center Brain Drain might not truly exist in the way it is commonly perceived according to a summary published this week by UC San Diego School of Global Approach and Strategy researchers The document published in Thursday s edition of Science discovered that high-skilled emigration from evolving countries may really boost economic rise human capital and innovation in refugees countries of origin With immigration to the United States in a state of flux under the Trump Administration the researchers mentioned more open agreement and immigration leads to stronger economies Global prosperity rises when countries have access to U S labor markets declared Gaurav Khanna investigation coauthor and associate professor at the School of Global Strategy and Strategy And the U S benefits when it continues to attract the best global talent whether it s tech innovators or trained nurses But if we shut the door we jeopardy losing those global gains For years it was presumed that brain drain the migration of educated people from their home countries was detrimental to the country being left But it is more complicated than that the researchers write The opportunity to migrate to wealthier countries such as the United States encourages people in lower-income countries to invest in learning and training creating downstream effects strengthening both countries A lot of pact works through human networks disclosed Khanna If you ve worked in the U S and return home you know the people the standards the markets and you can help build business relationships That creates lasting value The effects of expanding migration opportunities can be far-reaching the authors write For example when the United States increased nursing visa access for Filipinos enrollment in nursing schools surged creating nine new nurses in the Philippines for every one who migrated a announcement from UCSD read It was similar in India where increased access to H- B visas increased the earnings of Indians in the U S by and raised IT employment in India by Khanna and coauthors from Yale Cornell the World Bank and other institutions revealed modern changes in U S immigration threat undercutting both U S innovation and global progress Earning a U S salary is incredibly lucrative mentioned Khanna That motivates multiple people to acquire skills even if they never leave Several eventually return home and work in their local economic system others send money back that helps educate children or launch businesses All of this contributes to expansion And for the U S by staying open to global talent the country strengthens both its financial system and the broader world
