Brain drain taking its toll on Silicon Valley

[Newsjock]

Source: Mountain View (Calif.) Voice

Smart, talented immigrants have shaped the entrepreneurial spirit and vitality of Silicon Valley for decades. But lately, with economies growing in China, India and elsewhere while the local tech scene remains stagnant, skilled immigrants are returning to their home countries in search of better opportunities.

... The trend bothers some industry watchers, who say an exodus of highly qualified individuals could have serious implications for the economic health of Silicon Valley.

"We have a lot to worry about," said Vivek Wadhwa, a researcher at Duke University and currently a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley.

... Wadhwa's research focuses on the effects of globalization on engineering, and specifically on highly skilled immigrant entrepreneurs. Over the next five years, he estimates, 100,000 Indian and Chinese immigrants working in technology and engineering will return to their home countries in search of better professional opportunities. He believes tens of thousands of them will be leaving Silicon Valley.

"More than half of the startups during the dot-com boom were from immigrants," he said. "That's a major blow to Silicon Valley's vitality. There's nothing good about this for Silicon Valley."

Read more: http://www.mv-voice.com/news/show_story.php?id=2586

---

Many of the reader comments take issue with the premise of this report.

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

1. They are also leaving Silicon Valley for other parts of the US.

California is kind of circling the bowl. Expensive as hell, taxed like crazy, a totally corrupt state government, and the place is still falling apart.

Many of the people I've known in Silicon Valley went to other states. I will probably follow them.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. California is STILL the golden state

[RKP5637]

5. I am one of them (US born) that left the valley for better areas in the US! n/t

[musette_sf]

9. don't let the door hit you

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

11. Will that cost extra?

LOL. I've lived in California most of my life, but I can always count on the self-righteous whiners to make this state even less hospitable than it already is. With neighbors like you, is it any wonder people leave?

Actually, I am moving my whole company up the coast, I'm just the last one to leave.

No one can sell me on the myth of California, I've lived here for years in many different parts (currently San Francisco). What was once a first-rate state has turned into a third-rate state, wishful thinking and militant denial notwithstanding. No one has any real interest in genuinely fixing it, so there isn't much value in staying.

[musette_sf]

13. I worked my ass off to get here

and I've lived in quite a few other places.

Working my ass off to get here was worth every bit of it.

I'd never go back to anywhere I've lived, or move anywhere else, unless it was under duress.

so

don't let the door hit you

[HeresyLives]

3. Yes, many countries are benefiting from this.

Capital flight and brain drain often go hand-in-hand.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. We got along fine without them before, we can do it again.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. 100,000 jobs which displaced Californians via the HB-1 program.

But now, those jobs have disappeared, even the HB-1 holders are jobless.

How ironic.

[musette_sf]

8. + 1

:nopity:

too bad, so sad, for them. not.

[OhioChick]

10. May I join you?

:nopity:

[neverforget]

7. I read that as "Brain Dead" taking it's toll on Silicon Valley.

Zombies or Republicans have taken over......I'm way too tired.

[HeresyLives]

12. River in Egypt.