Mexican Brain Drain?
After reading Troy's excellent re-cap of the debate, I'm left with this thought regarding immigration. Why doesn't the conversation ever touch on what a beautiful amazing country and neighbor Mexico would be if the ambitious talented people that make it out of there were encouraged to stay there and fix the pile of corrupted rot that nation's ruling class have allowed it to become.
We incentivize other countries to develop their infrastructure and join the community of democratic developed countries. With Mexico however, we're only encouraging a brain drain. It's a shame and immoral.
My answer, a giant wall and anti-tunnel technology. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the just-kidding-amnesty goes into effect. It's like what Reagan did, but with teeth. After that, wait in line with everyone else. If we need you, will let you know. In the mean time, tend to your fixer-upper of a nation, and if you need help with that, let's talk. We can be a generous neighbor.
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Oct '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
You know, I've been saying much the same myself. We do Mexico no favors by vacuuming up their best people. I agree on the policy; we have to secure the border first, then come up with a plan for some sort of amnesty, preferably waiting a few years for the border legislation to stand up in court.
Edited on Nov 22, 2011 at 11:34pmOct '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
I can't blame poor Mexicans for wanting to leave. No opportunities in Mexico for the them. Mexico's wealth and power is concentrated on the corrupt oligarchical ruling class and they'd like to keep it that way.
Oct '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
Under normal circumstances, sharing a border w/ the U.S. should be a positive for any country, unfortunately it is not the case here.
Oct '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
The "best people" are already running mexico, people like Carlos Slim and the Mexican 1%-ers.
Edited on Nov 23, 2011 at 1:29amMar '11
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
Well, I guess you are right in a sense, Joe -- It isn't just Mexico, though.
In 1956, a 19-year-old kid named Andras Istvan Grof lit out from Hungary during the revolt, got over here with less than a dollar in his pocket, changed his name to Andy Grove, and finished his degree. He then co-founded Intel Corporation, creating more jobs than Obama's economics team could count, let alone create.
I believe we do need more control over our borders, southern and northern (those Canadians are tricksy). But in terms of letting people in? Everyone comes in by the gate, everyone signs the book.
My proposal for a national motto (if we ever chuck the excellent E Pluribus Unum) would be The USA - Giving the World's Best and Brightest a Place to Prove It Since 1776.
May '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
We incentivize Mexican immigration to the extent we provide a comparatively hospitable environment for commerce. This - our remaining politico-economic freedom - is what, by implication, you are citing as shameful and immoral. The same argument was made by policymakers in post-war England who resented the movement of minds to the United States. This argument essentially indicts the U.S. for having too few obstructions to voluntary exchange and market activity.
"We?" I think Wal-Mart and other U.S. firms should be allowed to decide on their own if they need additional labour. Why should Mexican citizens, with little hope of provoking any reform in their own country, be doomed to "tend" to it regardless? Like asking Cubans to "tend" to theirs. Same principle.
Edited on Nov 23, 2011 at 3:16amOct '11
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
Joe Escalante
if the ambitious talented people that make it out of there were encouraged to stay there and fix the pile of corrupted rot that nation's ruling class have allowed it to become.
Changing a country isn't free and it is more a question of costs than lack of being ''allowed''.
You can either (1)move to the USA to gain almost instant institutional improvement, (2)work within the status quo or (3) spend the rest of your life trying to change it.
I wonder which of these options is the less appealing.
These young people aren't property of Mexico, and such there is no stealing going on, just people making decision for their own lives.
Makes sense.
Edited on Nov 23, 2011 at 5:33amJul '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
I read in The Economist this week that countries only experience negative effects of "brain drains" when 20% or more of college graduates are leaving the country. Can anyone confirm if this is the case, or point us toward some statistics?
Edited on Nov 23, 2011 at 6:38amAug '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
<devil's advocate mode = on>
Like the USA and Canada, Mexico is a Federalist country where economic freedom varies from state to state. According to the Fraser Institute, top Mexican states like Guanajuato are more-or-less on par with the best US states and Canuck provinces, and the worst Mexican states are more-or-less on par with Burma and Angola.
<devil's advocate mode = off>
Aug '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
Goddamned frostbacks, stealing American jobs in the fur trapping and maple syrup industries!
Feb '11
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
Ah, you asking Mexico's elite to actually improve their country in a way that does not benefit them. That does not register with their thought process or expectations. Things will get very heated in Mexico if an effective barrier (bet it a wall or whatever) is established. The US has been a default pressure relief valve of Mexico's barely literate, poor and unskilled citizens. The US is now bearing the cost of the medical and social expenses that had they stayed would be borne by their native country. Guess what is the second highest source of income in Mexico, remittances. Add in all the cartel violence, corruption and social decay (which is rarely discussed) I fear there is little reason to be optomistic. Bye the way the educated middle and upper class generally stays in Mexico.
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
When I call it a brain drain, I'm trying to be kind. My grandfather walked over here from Sonora. He wasn't educated or middle class. He was just cleaver and hard working. If he would have stayed in Mexico, Mexico would have been better for it. I'd be there too. Mexico would be worse for that I admit, but it's a numbers game. They lost a great one when my father in law decided to come here. He's in indispensable manager of an American factory, raised 3 great citizens. We love him, he gave me my wife. Mexico's loss again.
Secure the border first. Then we will have some leverage to effect change in that country.
Oct '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
Humza Ahmad: I read in The Economist this week that countries only experience negative effects of "brain drains" when 20% or more of college graduates are leaving the country. Can anyone confirm if this is the case, or point us toward some statistics? · Nov 23 at 6:35am
Edited on Nov 23 at 06:38 am
What mexico is experiencing is less "brain drain" and more "poor drain".
Edited on Nov 23, 2011 at 9:16pmAug '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
If any one can walk out their door with next to nothing, with little more than clothes on their back, walk to another country, learn a new language and build a new life there, a better life for himself and his family, the way so many Mexicans have done here, that is a brain drain, no degree required.
If I tried that heading south I'd be dead in a week, not of violence but my own lack of wherewithal.
Apr '11
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
Not all Mexicans who cross the border lose contact with Mexico. It's very helpful to Mexico that so many of its citizens have become integrated with American values and so many are educated in America.
Oct '10
Re: Mexican Brain Drain?
I remember this as one of the saddest "brain drain" stories a few years ago.