Brain Circulation:How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off.

Saxenian, A. (2002). Brain circulation, how high-skill immigration makes everyone better off. In In P. De Palma (Ed.), Computers in society (pp. 37-40). Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill.
Unit 3, Article 8

Review by Kim Doyle

In this article Annalee Saxenian submits that the high numbers of immigrants employed in the Silicon Valley is a benefit, rather than a threat, to the American workforce. In 2002, when this article was first published, over a quarter of Silicon Valley’s workforce were immigrants. This has caused significant debate over U.S. Immigration Policy that focuses primarily on the extent to which the presence of foreign-born professionals has displaced American workers. The countries from which these workers come also believe this emigration to the United States to be an economic loss for their countries. Many assume that this movement of highly skilled workers benefits one country over the other. In this article Saxenien submits that those immigrating to the U.S. are actually highly skilled entrepreneurs that are starting new businesses in the U.S. and creating jobs rather than displacing American workers. Thanks to “brain circulation” as she calls it, this is a benefit to both sides.

In addition to creating new U.S. businesses, these skilled immigrants are also maintaining their ethnic ties by developing social and professional organizations for the purpose of professional and technical advancement. However, while the Chinese and Indian immigrants socialization is exclusive to their ethnic networks, they acknowledge that working with U.S. businesses is essential. Among the most successful are those that draw on their ethnic resources and integrate with U.S. enterprises. For example the links between the high-tech communities of Silicon Valley and Taiwan are resulting in benefits to both economies.

Saxenien points out further that these social and professional organizations linking immigrant entrepreneurs with each other also facilitate linkages with their counterparts at home. This creates transnational communities and provides opportunities to participate in a global economy. New transportation and technology communications allow even small firms to work within an international economy. It is, as Saxenian submits, a new model of globalization, a fact that U.S. immigration policy makers must consider as immigration laws are established.

Reaction

This article presents a perspective on this phenomenon that I have not previously been aware. I am among those that have assumed that employment of skilled immigrants has a negative impact on American workers. Outsourcing of technology is often spoken of within a negative context claiming it results in the loss of jobs for American workers. While I know this does happen, reading this article has broadened my perspective of this issue and its relationship to immigration law.