1150 



Expenditures in R. & D. on this scale enhanced the technological 

 predominance of the United States in the world.^*^ Parallel increases 

 in Federal expenditures, though not on the same scale, were made in 

 the Nation's health services during the postwar decades as economic 

 and social pressures stimulated a governmental response to the grow- 

 ing health needs of the American people. The combination of both 

 created unique conditions to drain talent from many countries into 

 the United States.^** 



SHORTAGES OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND PHYSICIANS 



American preeminence in science and technology would have been 

 sufficient to attract manpower from abroad. Disadvantaged profes- 

 sionals from the LDCs and even the dissatisfied from the advanced 

 countries of Europe, "pushed" by multiple forces within their own 

 lands, would find the American environment appealing and profes- 

 sionally satisfying. But added economic incentive was given to this 

 natural attraction by the disequilibrium in the supply and demand of 

 certain categories of professional manpower. ^^^ As Dr. Kidd observed, 

 "scientists and engineers are in chronically short supply in tech- 

 nologically advanced countries." ^^^ This was true of the United 

 States ; it was also true of other advanced countries.^*^ 



Expansion of American science and technology along with the ex- 

 pansion of the Nation's health services created a demand for man- 

 power that the American educational system could not satisfy. Over- 

 supply, especially in the LDCs, and undersupply in the United States 

 created a natural "pull" interaction, to the advantage of the United 

 States, but a marked disadvantage to the LDCs. 



As Dr. Kidd notes : "Highly trained people are difficult to produce, 

 and importation of brains is less expensive than tl^e expansion of uni- 

 versities. The attainment of important national goals is made easier 

 by immigration." ^^^ In brief, economic disequilibrium in supply and 

 demand creates the "pull" and immigration provides the means. 



Perhaps the largest contributor to the economic "pull" factor in the 

 United States, in addition to the undersupply of scientists and engi- 



»8* British Prime Minister Wilson gave this explanation for United States leadership : 

 "America's technological dominance In so many parts of the worid derives from the original 

 opportunities presented by her own wide, dynamic open market ; it derives too from the 

 fact that her Industries are sufficiently developed and massive, sufficiently free from undue 

 fragmentation, to enable her to reap the advantages of large-scale production which mod- 

 ern technology demands. ... So It must be for us." (EFTA Reporter, Jan. 9, 1967, 

 quoted In Hearings, House, Government Operations Committee. Brain Drain, 1968. p. 59). 

 *8* Dr. Frankel gave the following explanation for U.S. Government responsibility for 

 brain drain : "Finally, It Is important. In the Interests of accuracy, to recall that United 

 States Government funds may have an indirect and unintended impact on the 'brain 

 drain'. We do not know the figures, which by their very essence would be hard to get at. 

 Undoubtedly, however, foreigners do come to our country, and occupy positions in labora- 

 tories, hospitals, universities, and the like — positions that exist because the United States 

 Government, through Its general assistance to research, development and educational 

 activities in the national interest, has provided financial resources. In this sense, there Is 

 probably an indirect Government contribution to the 'brain drain'. But the extent of this 

 contribution is naturally hard to measure, and its significance Is even harder to appraise" 

 (Hearings. Senate Judiciary Committee, International Migration of Talent and Skills, 

 1968, p. 17.) 



*» Mylnt. OD. clt.. p. 236. „ ^ 



s** UNESCO, Final Report on the Conference <m the Application of Science and Tech- 

 nology to the Development of Latin America, 1965, p. 184. 



iw CIMT Study, pp. 668-69. „ , „ ^ 



=^ UNESCO, Final Report on the Conference on the Application of Science and Tech- 

 nology to the Development of Latin America, 1965, p. 184. 



