Global Debate Forum
Articles for March 19th, 2015 Roundtable
Topic: Education
Resolved: Countries should offer citizenship to international students who receive a
degree from a domestic university
PRO:
1. This article from The Atlantic argues that brain drain can have a positive impact in
African countries. Having the most educated members of the population move to other
areas of the world increase economic trade. Additionally, highly educated emigration
leads to positive role modeling by the remaining citizens.
Why Brain Drain Can Actually Benefit African Countries
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/02/why-brain-drain-canactually-benefit-african-countries/283750/#disqus_thread
2. This article from The Economist provides more arguments supporting highly educated
migration in order to support native economies with remittances, to equalize disparities
in job markets, and to provide role modeling to citizens to obtain higher levels of
education.
Drain or gain? Poor countries can end up benefiting when their brightest citizens
emigrate
http://www.economist.com/node/18741763
3. This article explores the positive impact on innovation by immigrants in the U.S. by
measuring the number of patents granted to immigrants vs. natives.
How much does immigration boost innovation?
Hunt. (2010). How much does immigration boost innovation?. American economic
journal, Macroeconomics, 2(2), 31-56.
http://www.nber.org/papers/w14312
4. Another article that covers the positive impact immigrants have had on U.S. from a
venture capitalist perspective.
American Made: The Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Professionals on US
Competitiveness
Anderson, Stuart and Michaela Platzer. 2006. “American Made: The Impact of Immigrant
Entrepreneurs and Professionals on U.S. Competitiveness”. National Venture Capital
Association.
www.contentfirst.com/AmericanMade_study.pdf
5. This article explores cultural diversity’s positive impact on R&D and innovation in
Germany.
Migration and Innovation: Does Cultural Diversity Matter for Regional R&D
Activity?
Niebuhr, Annekatrin. 2006. “Migration and Innovation: Does Cultural Diversity Matter
for Regional R&D Activity?” IAB Discussion Paper No. 14/2006.
doku.iab.de/discussionpapers/2006/dp1406.pdf
CON:
1. This article mitigates the claims of arguments in support of brain drain having a positive
impact on home countries’ economies. The article argues that smaller countries have
more negative consequences than positive from losing their highest educated
populations.
The Economic Consequences Of "Brain Drain" Of The Best And Brightest:
Microeconomic Evidence From Five Countries
http://elibrary.worldbank.org/doi/book/10.1596/1813-9450-5394
2. This article has several arguments for the ills of brain drain, especially in developing
countries.
Causes And Effects Of Brain Drain In Developing Economics Essay
http://www.ukessays.com/essays/economics/causes-and-effects-of-brain-drain-indeveloping-economics-essay.php
3. This article focuses mainly on illegal immigration, but there are a lot of good points of
what immigration’s burdens to the government and on society as a whole. There are
also a few points of benefits to society as well.
Most Say Illegal Immigrants Should Be Allowed to Stay, But Citizenship Is More
Divisive
http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/28/most-say-illegal-immigrants-should-beallowed-to-stay-but-citizenship-is-more-divisive/
4. This article is a personal account of the negative impact of Brain Drain on the author’s
home country, Trinidad and Tobago.
Brain Drain: Good for You. Bad for Your Country
http://www.outlish.com/brain-drain-good-for-you-bad-for-your-country/