Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Nurse-to-patient staffing minimums are a reform victory

["Anthony D'Costa" <dcosta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There are generally two classes involved in remittances: one migrant
workers on short term contracts (typically a year or two) for menial jobs
(carpenters, domestic help, etc); and two, professionals (doctors,
engineers, and so on).  Nurses might fall somewhere in between, depending
on where they are from and which country they go to.  In the Indian case,
thus far remittances from migrant workers have exceeded deposits made by
non-resident Indians (the professionals).  The reasons are obvious:
migrants are temporary workers, who return after the contract is over,
hence they save every penny and stay in army-like barracks.  The
professionals are already from the better off class and they typically
settle abroad, hence remittances are much smaller.

It is difficult to come to any conclusion one way or another about brain
drain.  In the early years it was a serious problem but now at least in
the case of India the economy is quite poised to absorb them.  Doctors in
India are generally well-off, though in dollar terms it doesn't look good.
The pipeline of software engineers is full as the US absorbs more
Indians.  Increasingly there is a "brain circulation" to use Saxenian's
phrase, although not yet mature in the case of India.  But I am confident
India will be the provider of services to the world economy.  You pick the
service...

Cheers, Anthony
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Anthony P. D'Costa, Associate Professor
Comparative International Development
University of Washington			Campus Box 358436
1900 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402, USA

Phone: (253) 692-4462
Fax :  (253) 692-5718
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On Sat, 26 Jan 2002, Michael Perelman wrote:

> The brain drain is an apalling tragedy.  I can't imagine the US or a
> European country repaying the countries that supplies its doctors ....
>
> Do the remittances usually cover the cost of education?
>
> By the way, wasn't part of the reason for the Berlin wall to keep W.
> Germany from draining away educated E. Germans?
> --
> Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> Chico, CA 95929
>
> Tel. 530-898-5321
> E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>