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 statement Photo courtesy of County News Center Brain Drain might not truly exist in the way it is commonly perceived according to a record published this week by UC San Diego School of Global Framework and Strategy researchers The summary published in Thursday s edition of Science unveiled that high-skilled emigration from emerging countries may indeed boost economic maturation human capital and innovation in newcomers countries of origin With immigration to the United States in a state of flux under the Trump Administration the researchers commented more open bargain and immigration leads to stronger economies Global prosperity rises when countries have access to U S labor markets disclosed Gaurav Khanna survey coauthor and associate professor at the School of Global Protocol 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 hazard losing those global gains For years it was assumed 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 exchange works through human networks noted 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 comment 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 disclosed contemporary changes in U S immigration vulnerability undercutting both U S innovation and global progress Earning a U S salary is incredibly lucrative disclosed Khanna That motivates numerous people to acquire skills even if they never leave Particular eventually return home and work in their local business sector others send money back that helps educate children or launch businesses All of this contributes to rise And for the U S by staying open to global talent the country strengthens both its economic system and the broader world