"Reverse Brain Drain"
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-11-19/reverse-brain-drain
For decades, college-educated professionals from developing nations have left home for opportunities in the West. But this "brain drain" is reversing as stricter immigration laws and weakening economies make Western countries less hospitable to immigrants. In the U.S., Silicon Valley is the hardest hit, with fewer immigrants starting companies. We explore the reverse brain drain and find out how it's impacting our area.
Guests
Demetrios Papademetriou
President and Board Member, Migration Policy Institute
Vivek Wadhwa
Director of Research, Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at the Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University; author of "The Immigrant Exodus: Why America is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial Talent"
Comments
Please familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct and Terms of Use before posting your comments.
In the last few years immigration has become so difficult for employers and yet so the employers are trying to comply with all laws and still try to attract talent pool for their companies. This proves that these immigrants add so much value to the companies
The life is really miserable for people stuck with the immigration process they are not able to get their Green Cards or visas. It is infact hurting the economy directly. These people do not want to invest money in buying houses in this country, even if they very well can afford it, because they are not sure of their stability in the country. People do not want to take vacations or travel outside the country for the fear of being unable to return to the country.
I wonder if these legitimate people waiting in queue for Greencards, were given one, it would do wonders for the housing market
The real reason that employers want more H1 visa employees is because the H1 visa holders are indentured servants who cannot leave the company that employs them without losing their visa status. This is why employers pass over well qualified US citizens to hire foreigners who have no more skills or education but who are more compliant and obedient once they are hired.
I am 56 years old, I have all of the STEM skills that employers claim they are looking for, and I can go to work immediately. Instead, I have time to listen to the Kojo show because I am judged to be "unqualified" to do anything.
Whenever I hear about a "shortage" of people in STEM careers, I have to wonder if the proponents are merely naive or if they are they liars working to advance the agenda of their employers. I do know that there is nobody in Washington lobbying for my interests when the subject of employment or immigration comes up, and that there is no way that I will ever encourage a young person to follow in the STEM career path that I chose 50 years ago.
It appears that the balance of opportunity costs between using your degree (from anywhere) in a first or third world environment has changed dramatically. The constellation of aptitudes & skills which allow an individual to be self-employed is much more significant than the local existing business demand for peons.