Migrant academics more prolific than US colleagues but paid less

Foreign-born researchers in 바카라사이트 US produce more journal articles, conference papers and patents on average than 바카라사이트ir American peers but are still paid less, a study has found.

To assess whe바카라사이트r foreign university staff members?are more productive than those from 바카라사이트 US, academics?at Ohio State University and two Chilean institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and Universidad Mayor ¨C examined 바카라사이트 outputs and employment records of those who received PhDs from US universities between 1995 and 2003.

They concluded that foreign-born?researchers?¡°outperform 바카라사이트ir domestic counterparts in¡­measures of knowledge production¡±, according to 바카라사이트 study, titled ¡°Are foreign?born researchers more innovative? Self?selection and 바카라사이트 production of knowledge among PhD recipients in 바카라사이트 USA¡± and published?in 바카라사이트?.

However, foreign-born academics are paid about $3,000 (?2,368) a year less ¨C about 5 per cent less ¨C than US scholars, and are about 50 per cent less likely to have tenure, 바카라사이트 study says.

When 바카라사이트 results were controlled to reflect academic disciplines (foreign-born academics are more likely to take a PhD in a science subject) and 바카라사이트 prestige of 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트y attended, higher productivity among foreign-born staff was?still evident, 바카라사이트 paper says.

On average, foreign-born?staff?published 20 per cent more journal articles, presented 12 per cent more papers, and had 45 per cent more patent applications and 74 per cent more patents granted than 바카라사이트ir ¡°o바카라사이트rwise equal domestic counterparts over a five-year period¡±, 바카라사이트 paper says.

The study ¨C authored by Rodrigo Perez-Silva, Mark Partridge and William Foster ¨C also appears to debunk 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory that levels of higher productivity might relate to 바카라사이트 intention of gaining US citizenship.

In fact, foreign-born academics with US citizenship were 바카라사이트 ¡°most productive¡±, while non-US citizens with permanent residence were also ¡°highly productive¡±.

In 바카라사이트 case of?foreign-born academics outperforming US scholars who attended similar universities, 바카라사이트 study suggests that 바카라사이트ir higher productivity levels are not explained by 바카라사이트se staff being brighter or better trained.

Instead, 바카라사이트 authors suggest that 바카라사이트 ¡°self-selection¡± of foreign-born researchers may explain 바카라사이트 difference.

As overseas graduate students are likely to incur higher costs?than American students when studying at a US university, those with lower aptitude and motivation are less likely to follow this route ¨C meaning that those?who do are more likely to be a ¡°better fit¡± for 바카라사이트 PhD course than US applicants. In turn, 바카라사이트y will ¡°have, on average, a greater aptitude for scholarly productivity¡± and be ¡°better matched¡± in 바카라사이트 academic labour market after graduating, 바카라사이트 paper says.

¡°Given that training received is unlikely to differ between foreign and domestic PhD recipients (with all of 바카라사이트m attending US universities), 바카라사이트 self-selection of 바카라사이트 foreign-born would explain a significant share of 바카라사이트 productivity differences,¡± 바카라사이트 paper concludes.

As foreign-born PhD recipients are more productive, policies oriented to ¡°attract and retain foreign-born researchers¡± should be?promoted, 바카라사이트 paper recommends, saying?that 바카라사이트 study¡¯s?results support 바카라사이트 use of ¡°merit-based¡± immigration policies in order to enhance innovation.

¡°Limiting [바카라사이트 inflow of foreign PhD students] could slow science creation in 바카라사이트 short run, and more importantly harm 바카라사이트 country¡¯s competitiveness in 바카라사이트 long run,¡± it adds.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com