Journal of Economic Perspectives · 2026 · [{"name": "Gaurav Khanna", "affiliation": ["University of California System"]}]
中文摘要
本文考察了自 1990 年以来从亚洲到美国的高技能移民的兴起及其对输出经济体与接收经济体的影响。在 1990 至 2019 年间，来自印度、中国、韩国、日本和菲律宾的移民占美国软件开发人员增长的三分之一以上，并占科学家、工程师和医生增量的四分之一。利用人口普查微观数据、签证记录和行政数据来源，我展示了美国在信息技术、高等教育和医疗保健领域日益增长的人才需求如何与亚洲的人口与教育转型相互作用。H-1B、F-1 和 J-1 项目的政策改革以及部门性转变——如互联网革命和与老龄化相关的医疗保健需求——产生了对外国学生和工人的持续需求。亚洲经济体凭借高等教育扩张、强大的 STEM(科学、技术、工程与数学)机构、英语能力和侨民网络，具备满足这一需求的独特条件。这些流入提升了美国的创新，同时促进了亚洲的"人才增益"(brain gain)与"人才循环"(brain circulation)。
Abstract
This paper examines the rise of high-skill migration from Asia to the United States since 1990 and its consequences for sending and receiving economies. Over 1990–2019, migrants from India, China, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines accounted for over one-third of US growth in software developers and a quarter of the increase in scientists, engineers, and physicians. Using census microdata, visa records, and administrative sources, I show how growing US demand for talent in information technology, higher education, and healthcare interacted with Asia’s demographic and educational transformations. Policy reforms in the H-1B, F-1, and J-1 programs and sectoral shifts—such as the internet revolution and aging-related healthcare demand—generated persistent needs for foreign students and workers. Asian economies were uniquely positioned to meet this demand through tertiary expansion, strong STEM institutions, English proficiency, and diaspora networks. These inflows boosted US innovation while fostering “brain gain” and “brain circulation” in Asia.