[spfzero]

One thing that might be a problem here, is the ongoing oversupply of advanced degrees. This creates a ready supply of replacement faculty whenever needed. As science faculty leave the university, the university has the option of easily replacing them one-by-one, probably at lower cost, and are left with no need to hire the new scientists' organization. The research quality might drop, but the university's reputation would paste over the difference for a while at least.

Or, the individual scientists' reputations are enough to pull along the grants when they go.

[lacy_tinpot]

There can't be an oversupply of advanced degrees. Rather if there is an "oversupply" it means that we can't adequately absorb the intellectual capacity of the population. This in itself is a problem that needs to be addressed.

[spfzero]

> we can't adequately absorb the intellectual capacity of the population

Think that's been true for a long time, yank any early 20th-century factory worker out of their job, you'll find a human intellect not being fully utilized. In fact just use a contemporary worker and the same thing is true. We can't all be getting grants to study something, society has to create some extra wealth first.

[tgv]

Why should that be a problem? But it doesn't even need to be true. If the quality of the advanced degree drops sufficiently, there's no problem, except one of academic credibility.