One-Child Brain Drain in China
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences recently reported that only 275,000 out of 1.06 million Chinese students that have studied abroad since 1978 have returned home to China. Instead, they have continued their education abroad, found higher paying jobs, got married and/or changed citizenship in countries that offer a higher quality of life and the freedom to have more than just one child. This brain drain phenomenon is hurting the Chinese knowledge economy as many first-class Chinese scientists and researchers have settled into academic positions outside of their home country. In March, Beijing announced that incentives would be offered to returnees, specifically senior scientists, engineers, and corporate managers. According to the Guardian, incentives would include an exemption from the household registration system, promised places for their children at top universities and higher salaries.
The following quote was reported in the Guardian,
"This shows that Chinese students overseas, especially those with extraordinary abilities, are a real hit in the global tug-of-war for talent," Yang Xiaojing, one of the authors of the report, was quoted as saying in the China Daily. "Against the backdrop of economic globalisation, an excessive brain drain will inevitably threaten the human resources, security and eventually the national economic and social security of any country."
