1675 



Diminishing the "push" factors through the development procesh 

 is obviously not a simple matter. The dimensions of the task are such 

 as to require substantial assistance from the United States and other 

 developed countries. In this context, the brain drain problem becomes 

 secondary, though contributing and s}^Ilptomatic; the primary object 

 is development itself. 



SOME U.S. OPTIONS IN COPING WITH BRAIN DRAIN 



What assistance can be expected of the United States at a time 

 when interest in foreign aid and development are at a low ebb? The 

 study concludes with the thought that: 



In the face of many perplexing ambiguities and conflicting trends, perhaps the 

 most that can be expected at the present juncture in U.S. foreign poHcy is that 

 brain drain and the larger problem of international development be placed on the 

 agenda of matters to be attended to when the Nation has recovered its balance, 

 slowed its retreat from international involvement, and is prepared to resume a 

 larger, and some would say a more creative, role in world affairs. This course, 

 requiring a vision of the future and a reassessment of this Nation's place in it, 

 would seem to be unavoidable, one dictated by self-interest, not a matter of moral 

 conscience or mere national preference."" 



There are some modest options which might be considered, however, 

 while the Nation is making that reassessment. One which would 

 involve assisting the United Nations to establish a country-by- 

 country inventory of trained manpower resources, and a registry of 

 qualified specialists willing to go where they are needed, is suggested 

 in the essay on Independence versus Interdependence later in this 

 volume. Another, for which the groundwork has been parti}" done, 

 might involve a vigorous attack on the problem of U.S. medical 

 education resources — primarily for domestic reasons, but also to reduce 

 the medical brain drain. Again, the National Science Foundation 

 (which has a continuing interest in the brain drain problem in 

 particular and international science activities and relationships in 

 general) might be asked to outline a broad program whereby U.S. 

 governmental, academic, research laboratory, industrial, and other 

 institutions and individuals might cooperate in (a) defining country- 

 by- country needs of LDCs for scientific and technological infrastruc- 

 ture, (b) exploring the need for regional "centers of excellence";"^ 

 (c) advising at both country antl regional levels in the establishment 

 of phased short- and long-range development programs; and (d) 

 advising and assisting in the establishment of related statistical 

 information systems, data banks, and information exchange pro- 

 cedures. In shaping and coordinating such a program, the I'ounda- 

 tion — or perhaps alternatively the Department of Health, Education, 

 and Welfare— might also call on appropriate U.N. agencies to under- 

 take related initiatives with U.S. funding and collaborative assistance. 

 In the medical field, as suggested elsewhere in this stud}^ the World 

 Health Organization would seem an attractive possibility. 



272 Ibid., p. 1318. 



'"' For a discussion of "centers of excellence" — regional bases in which several countries pool funds and 

 resources to carry on scientific research and develon research skills suited to the needs of the area, but beyond 

 the means of any one country— see ibid., pp. 1263-1265. 



