Mad Social Scientist

A couple of articles (and letters and websites) express alarm over declining American dominance of science. America has dominated for so long because it is wealthy enough to suppport lots of basic research, has the world's best university system, especially for supporting research, and because the federal government has plowed hundred of billions into the sciences, especially for military and medical applications. As long as these characteristics separate the US from the rest of the world, a disproportionate amount of science will take place in our borders, but as other countries put more money into science (and the US cuts back federal spending), other countries will catch up. Moreover, the key factor of production, bright scientists, is one no one has a monopoly on, and in the long run, one should expect the best scientists to come from all over the world. And I don't think that's bad, from a global perspective.

Here's some interesting data from NYT:

% PhD holders in US who are foreign born in 2000:

Engineering 51%
Physical sciences 45
Math/comp sci 45
Life science 45
Social science 13

Gosh, it's easier for me to applaud the global leveling of science when my field remains in large part an American preserve. We'll see how my tune changes when I have to really compete...