Brain drain in US as immigrants head home

WASHINGTON: The United States is facing a brain drain and can no longer take for granted its ability to attract the world's top talent, according to a new study.

The Kauffman Foundation, a non-profit organization, surveyed 1,203 Indian and Chinese immigrants and found that skilled immigrants are leaving the US to return to their home countries in greater numbers. It released the study - America's Loss is the World's Gain - conducted by Vivek Wadhwa of Harvard University last week.

"A substantial number of highly skilled immigrants have started returning to their home countries in recent years, draining a key source of brain power and innovation," said Robert E. Litan, vice-president of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation. "We wanted to know what is encouraging this much-needed growth engine to leave our country, thereby sending entrepreneurship and economic stimulus to places like Bangalore and Beijing."