Brain drain away from U.S.

Could the West's drain be the world's gain? For decades international commentators have referred to "brain drain" - the flow of intellect from less developed nations to richer ones, often never to return home. Now the tide is turning; in some cases, such as China, rather drastically.

Sure, many still come from less developed or poorer countries to the U.S. and Western Europe for education and other skills development. What's changing is that when they do, more now decide to return home to pursue better (yes, I said "better") career opportunities and enrich their native economies.

Why this reverse migration? Some in the U.S. might point to tougher immigration laws. Yes, that plays a part, although the effect may not be a positive one considering that the higher shifts home are among those immigrants most skilled, those who could foster more job growth and entrepreneurship if they stayed in the U.S.

The other factor has nothing to do with immigration policy; it's a simple matter of two plus two equals nearly zero.

The economies worldwide have been tough since 2009 and that means fewer jobs, except in certain countries formerly known as "Third World." The fastest economic growth on the planet is there, i.e. Kenya, Nigeria, India, and China, to name a few. That translates into jobs growth and economic incentives such as China's well-publicized "1,000 Talents Plan."

Their government offers cash, housing allowances and business opportunities free of red tape to returning ex-patriots with science and high-tech degrees. China's economic boom (fifth highest GDP growth in the world; U.S. ranks 149) drew 40 percent more student returnees in 2011 than in 2010. Kenyans and Nigerians who came to the U.S. to study business, computer science, and graphic design also now find more lucrative opportunities back home than here, according to an article this month in the Christian Science Monitor.

They're taking their American influences with them. Moreover, western professionals are heading to these countries in higher numbers for the same reasons; Brazil has seen 50 percent more foreigners living there legally between 2010 and 2011. A researcher who was told he could locate Google's new facility "anywhere" chose Poland. The president of the nonprofit Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., calls what they take with them "the democratization of talent."

Wait, "democratization?" That's a fancier reference to what Idaho's Gov. Otter calls "French fry diplomacy" - the influences of open market principles and free flow of ideas upon a society, as a side effect of business interaction. Call it the opposite of sanctions, the idea that in the long run we can best influence troubled nations by sharing (not forcing) our way of life to mutual economic benefit. The Almighty Dollar as carrot rather than stick.

It can work. Between education and business, the more opportunities for a productive, healthy life has a society, the less interested are its citizens in war, terrorism, or revolt. Peace is good for business, but it starts from the ground up.

According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, a child born to an educated mother is more than twice as likely to survive childhood. For every extra year of school, productivity increases by 10 to 30 percent and individual earnings by 10 percent. Apparently, that also leads to less strife.

Despite the headlines and horrors which seem to endure, the world steadily becomes less violent as economies and education improve through history. According to Harvard psychologist and author Steven Pinker, the number of people killed per 100,000 has dropped 1,000-fold since the birth of the nation-state. Genocide deaths were 1,400 times higher in 1942. There are 20 more democracies than in 1946 and authoritarian regimes have reduced from 90 in 1976 to about 25 now. Murders both outside and inside the home continue to fall globally. Pinker attributes this to increasing IQ, brought largely by economic growth which spurs educational opportunity.

So we may be draining brains with reverse migration of the best-educated foreign students, but the contributions they make to their communities net a global gain. Their rise is the world's reward, and there is good reason for man to hope. What better news than that?

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at sholehjo@hotmail.com.