The brain drain. I guess that’s officially called the flight of human capital. Where those who we educated end up moving to someplace else. Meaning that we not only lose the resource of their brain capacity, but the costs and resources used to educate those folks.
For nearly 40 years, the brain drain was an issue for Europe. It worried about losing their best and their brightest to America. It also applied to India which educated its folks but provided few if any opportunities for these educated graduates to use their talents in India.
Nowadays, China has few worries about losing folks to other countries. Moreover, fewer of their best and brightest are coming to America to get educated- they can obtain a first-rate education right at home in China.
Many of our rural towns in America have been experiencing human capital flight for decades. Their young souls move away to places where jobs are plentiful. Which is why many of our small towns have become ghost towns over the years.
In Canada, places like Montreal worry about the same phenomena. We may think of Montreal as a cosmopolitan city, replete with wonderful educational campuses (like the fantabulous McGill University) and affording great lives to those who reside there. Except too many of their college graduates have flown the coop.
So, many Montreal-based companies are looking to bring Silicon Valley-like amenities to their employees. Lunchtime yoga. Fancy coffee bars. Indoor skateboarding. City fathers are finding ways to proffer start-up funds. (They are also demanding residency times as a condition of financial aid. More of a stick than a carrot.)
All in the hope to keep these talented graduates from taking up jobs in Calgary (Alberta), Toronto (Ontario), or Vancouver (British Columbia), where high tech opportunities abound.
But, it’s not just Montreal. I’m sure y’all have heard that the state of Vermont is offering $ 10,000 to those who move to the state and take up jobs (which have been going unfilled for too long). Or, that Maine is helping college graduates who move into the state a tax credit to enable those folks to pay off their student loans.
Illinois has now kept its in-state tuition flat so that students will opt to be educated at their home system. Before this program of financial aid, the University of Illinois system recognized that 1/3 of all high school graduates left the state for college- and 42% of UofI graduates had no intention of remaining in the state when they graduate.
Montana determined that half those granted doctoral degrees migrated from the state- compared to the barely adequate 2/3 who garnered bachelor’s degrees that stayed Montana bound. New Jersey realized that their population loss could be attributed to the fact that more than ½ the high school graduates go away to college, with few returning. Michigan realized that 80% of those who garnered advanced degrees from their wonderful institutions (sorry, Michigan State, you need to fix your culture something fierce and something fast) leave to never return.
Now that they know what the problem is, do you think these states will do something to provide their young and educated the reasons to stay?
Given the quality of their governments, I have great qualms. Maybe the citizenry will wake up. (While they’re at it, maybe they won’t elect a Steve King or TheDonald, either.)
Because a brain is a terrible thing to waste.
Vermont is going the right way.I feel tax benefits ,special privileges and at least an improvement in quality of life is what we all want .education should make you live better,happier and healthier ,not stressed out ,overworked and frustrated.Great post
I’m with you, Dr. A!
Let’s hope our 50 states wake up and find ways to keep all of our towns and cities healthy!
Small towns are fun… but… mass transit is nonexistent and services tend to be lacking… so… people want more. Rural areas tend to be very pedestrian unfriendly. If people are to stay in rural areas and small towns, there has to be some sort of incentive. But no one wants to invest in infrastructure or in improving services… and it could be done, without changing the character of the communities…
See, I thought rural areas were pedestrian friendly. Because there are not enough cars to make walking difficult. At least, that’s how I recall those places, Alice.
And, yes, infrastructure (and that’s everywhere) is severely lacking!
I agree that a brain is a terrible thing to waste. And I like Vermont’s idea – especially if they pay you before you get the job. It would pay moving expenses and maybe the first couple few of expenses. Then, you get the job and can pay the rest. Not bad.
I agree. I didn’t bring in the fact that there’s a guy (Larry Blumberg) in Dothan, Alabama who pays Jewish folks $ 50K if they move there- and stay there. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/a-millionaire-paid-jews-to-move-to-a-small-town-in-alabama-now-one-couple-struggles-with-their-choice/2018/12/26/19703dba-fd6e-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html?utm_term=.161c0604ca28 ) Because the Jewish population is dying (dead?) and we Jewish folks need 10 people to pray communally. So, he’s trying to keep the Jewish traditions alive in Dothan. But, the brain drain there is related to anti-Semitism, not opportunities, per se.