What does brain drain in U.S. science have to do with the health of the U.S. economy? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot! The U.S. pharmaceutical industry for example, is an almost trillion-dollar industry. Now though, that industry and U.S. global leadership in the development of new drugs is being threatened as many scientists flee the United States for other countries. Some of those leaving are foreign citizens, others are Americans. Why are they leaving? Well, the national funding for science research that has been the bedrock of much of the scientific discovery in the United States across a wealth of industries including pharmaceuticals for more than 50 years has been cut by the current administration.

The cuts have left researchers scrambling to find ways to continue their research and in many cases, keep their businesses running. Other countries, including China, Canada, England, and many European Union countries, which have long been in the shadow of the United States when it comes to research and development (R&D) are now actively trying to attract those scientists, offering research funding to those who leave the United States. For these countries, it’s an opportunity to develop a competitive edge in areas where before it had been more difficult to compete. Keep in mind, that many small and medium sized U.S. businesses have their roots in R&D initially funded through government grants.

For the United States, the long-term implications of eliminating research funding could mean that many of the commercial ventures that would normally come out of research labs will disappear. It could also mean that an entire generation of would-be scientists will choose alternative career paths or move to other countries. If this happens, the future of the pharmaceutical industry that supports so many jobs within the United States will likely falter. While the Trump administration has suggested that private industry could close the funding gap, critics argue that government funding is essential to the R&D process and that without it, there will be an incentive to focus only on R&D that is likely to produce immediate profits rather than the often long-term R&D that can result in life-changing discoveries. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. The United States has long been a magnet for the brightest minds in science. How has the ability of the United States to attract scientists contributed to the growth of the U.S. economy over the past half century?
  2. Discuss brain drain as it relates to the U.S. scientific industry. How have cuts to federal funding for scientific research contributed to the brain drain? What are the long term economic impacts of brain drain?