Differential employment patterns for citizens and non-citizens in science and engineering in the United States: Minting and competitive effects

Abstract

The consequences of the heavy inflow of foreign talent for US. scientists and engineers over the period 1973-1997 are examined using data from the Survey of Doctorate Recipients. Of particular interest is whether non-citizens trained in the United States have displaced citizens from jobs in science and engineering (SandE). Using a novel adaptation of the shift-share technique, it is shown that citizen SandE doctorates have fewer jobs in SandE and fewer academic jobs than their non-citizen counterparts for two reasons: the citizen doctoral population has experienced slower growth than the non-citizen doctoral population, and citizen SandE doctorates have been displaced. Whether the displacement observed was a voluntary response of citizens to the lure of better opportunities elsewhere or an involuntary response indicative of having been pushed out by foreign talent remains to be determined. © 2004 Gatton College of Bussiness and Economics,University of Kentucky.