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 description Photo courtesy of County News Center Brain Drain might not truly exist in the way it is commonly perceived according to a review published this week by UC San Diego School of Global Framework and Strategy researchers The assessment published in Thursday s edition of Science exposed that high-skilled emigration from progressing countries may really boost economic progress human capital and innovation in asylum seekers countries of origin With immigration to the United States in a state of flux under the Trump Administration the researchers commented more open transaction and immigration leads to stronger economies Global prosperity rises when countries have access to U S labor markets noted Gaurav Khanna review 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 danger losing those global gains For years it was maintained 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 training and training creating downstream effects strengthening both countries A lot of exchange works through human networks revealed 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 declaration 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 explained modern changes in U S immigration menace undercutting both U S innovation and global progress Earning a U S salary is incredibly lucrative noted Khanna That motivates numerous people to acquire skills even if they never leave A few eventually return home and work in their local commercial sector others send money back that helps educate children or launch businesses All of this contributes to advance And for the U S by staying open to global talent the country strengthens both its economic system and the broader world