Four Takes on Brain Drain

A survey completed two weeks ago by the Detroit Free Press reported 53 percent of students at Michigan's three largest universities (University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University) were definitely planning to leave the state after graduation. The main reason for leaving, cited by 47 percent of respondents, was to go where good jobs are located. A secondary reason, named by 24 percent of departing graduates, was the desire to see what it is like somewhere else outside of Michigan.   (here)

A recent report about the retention rate in Vermont concludes that keeping younger people from leaving is "an exercise in futility" and efforts should target bringing back those who have left. Engaging nearly 3,000 alumni from various Vermont colleges and universities, 40 percent responded that they have considered moving back to Vermont, with the high cost of living and the perceived lack of job opportunities cited as the primary barriers to relocation.  (and here)

But alternative research methods are showing that the percentages may be drastically different in other states, with the loss of human capital not as bad in some places as originally feared. For example, a report released last month by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee finds 84 percent of graduates from Tennessee's higher education institutions remain in the state one year after graduation, either working or continuing their education. This percentage decreases in subsequent years, with 76 percent of graduates remaining in the state after four years and 70 percent after seven years, the authors found.  (and here)

Another study was completed for the state of Maine and utilized 1,789 people 5-8 years after graduation as their sample. The authors found that 49 percent of graduates from higher education institutions in Maine remain in the state. Additionally, of those who graduated from universities outside of the state, 55 percent returned to Maine to live and work. The top three reasons people chose to stay included being closer to friends and family, recreational activities, and cultural and social reasons. Those who left Maine cited different reasons for leaving, the most important being better career opportunities, followed by the discovery of a job outside of the state, then better pay and benefits. The report concludes that Maine "is not losing as many of its college educated young people as originally assumed." (and here)

Different studies seem to be reaching different conclusions based more on their methods, the actual questions asked, and the people questioned than anything else.

posted by Kevin Stolarick

Comments

[Michael Wells]

How do these studies compare with Richard's "Where the Brains Are" map (9/13/06 of this blog)? Looks to me like Vermont is pretty healthy in college grads, Southern Maine is average but Northern is dismal, Michigan has a couple of hot spots in the South (probably the college towns) but otherwise poor, in Tennessee Nashville is the only bright spot.

Probably graduates look at cities rather than states. Portland, Maine is very different from the Northwestern part of the state or even the Down East coast. And Nashville is a far cry from rural Appalachia.

[Sandy]

Kevin, I agree with your point about study conclusions having more to do with the questions asked, methodology and the individuals studied. From my experience in Maine, I would also add who is the sponsoring agency and who is doing the study.

I was recently surveyed and found the questions failed to capture the complexity of location decision making. In fact, they seemed to be leading questions, designed to confirm the study conclusions, rather than provide any insight into actual decision making factors/ process. Asking the wrong questions.

A more comprehensive research process which includes more in-depth, open-ended questions for both those who stay and those who go may be a bit more enlightening.

[Richard]

All -- For such a big important issue: Why isn't there more high-quality research on the question of why different subsets of people move and sort?