[EmpireoftheSun]

I dont think Brin Drain is a win-win outcome in a globalized world. USA benefits but at expense of mostly poor nations sending their elite talent.

[lxgr]

I have a feeling that any cost to other nations might not be a concern to TFA in any way, given that the stated goal seems to be to somehow "save the American empire".

Geopolitics from a less civilized time making their comeback, this time without mincing any words.

[toast0]

Depending on the origin country, there's a non-insignificant amount of people coming to the US, making a lot of money, then going back to their country of origin and building businesses or charities back home. Often with some amount of remitances in the meantime. I think that can be a win-win, but the ratios probably matter.

[Etheryte]

While this may happen to some degree, it's almost certainly overshadowed by the fact that this also quickly creates a vast wealth gap, leading to problems with housing, gentrification, etc. In other words, the people actually living there will very quickly be priced out of many markets. We see this effect to some extent in nearly every country in the world, just mixed in with all other economic activity, so it isn't as plainly obvious.

[nextos]

Since the host country rarely retains the majority of the students, it can be a win-win. Some go back home with a good education and fresh ideas.

[lxgr]

I wouldn't call that brain drain then.

[__loam]

Yeah that's the point.

[trhway]

would this elite talent be that productive there like it is here? I don't think so. I think moving talent to the most productive environment is the win for the civilization as a whole.

[sandeepkd]

This is probably a key thing which gets buried in the details. Potential value and actual realized value of a resource can be really different depending on the opportunities. Individuals rarely exists in isolation, every time they do better, they impact others in positive way, sort of uplifting everyone around them by some margin.

A simple manifestation of this is how we start up coal fire. The idea is similar, bring the hot blocks together so they produce a lot more heat which in turn heats up the entire coal load. Move away the red hot blocks to isolation and the fire would die away in no time.

[lxgr]

Only if there's something flowing back that amounts to more than crumbs falling off the edge of the table, i.e. ownership of what these talented people help build, not just salaries/remittances.

Silicon Valley is actually pretty good at that, compared to e.g. academia in the US.