HIGH TECH JOBS FOLLOW PRODUCTION WORK TO CHINA AND INDIA

US SCIENCE AND MATH SKILLS TAILING OFF.
PARENTS OF US STUDENTS TO DUMB TO NOTICE

The Author frequently writes about the economic shift from the US to China and India. Everyone knows the story of the industrial jobs shifting to China. The emerging story is the shift in science and engineering jobs to the east.

A story in February 16th’s New York Times, “Outsourcing is Climbing Skills Ladder”[i], details the moves by large American and European multi-national corporations to move science and engineering jobs to China and India. The NYT story summarizes a study released to the National Academies, the leading US science and technology groups. The study finds:

In a survey of more than 200 multinational corporations on their research center decisions, 38 percent said they planned to "change substantially" the worldwide distribution of their research and development work over the next three years — with the booming markets of China and India, and their world-class scientists, attracting the greatest increase in projects.

Whether placing research centers in their home countries or overseas, the study said, companies often use similar criteria. The quality of scientists and engineers and their proximity to research centers are crucial.

The study contended that lower labor costs in emerging markets are not the major reason for hiring researchers overseas, though they are a consideration. Tax incentives do not matter much, it said.[ii]

Note what the study finds. The major reason is the quality of the scientists and engineers, not the lower labor costs. So not only are the Chinese and Indians lower cost employees, they are better quality employees.

COMPANY EXECUTIVES POINT TO LAGGING AMERICAN SCIENCE AND MATH SKILLS

The American executives who are planning to send work abroad express concern about what they regard as an incipient erosion of scientific prowess in this country, pointing to the lagging math and science proficiency of American high school students and the reluctance of some college graduates to pursue careers in science and engineering.

For a company, the reality is that we have a lot of options," Mr. Banholzer of Dow Chemical said. "But my personal worry is that an educated, innovative science and engineering work force is vital to the economy. If that slips, it is going to hurt the United States in the long run.[iii]

AMERICAN PARENTS AND AMERICAN KIDS ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO SEE HOW DUMB THEY ARE

In the face of this erosion of math and science skills, American students and parents remain in a commonly American state of denial. An article posted on CNN.com. “Parents don’t see a Crisis over Science and Math”[iv], states the following:

Fifty-seven percent of parents say "things are fine" with the amount of math and science being taught in their child's public school. High school parents seem particularly content -- 70 percent say their child gets the right amount of science and math.

Students aren't too worried, either, according to the poll released Tuesday by Public Agenda, a public opinion research group that tracks education trends. Only half of children in grades six to 12 say that understanding sciences and having strong math skills are essential for them to succeed after high school.[v]

The Dumbing Down of America is more than just the mission statement for American secondary education. It has now been implemented.

And the Author is long foreign and emerging nation stock markets.

PEKING AND NEW DELHI ARE AS INTERCHANGABLE AS SAN JOSE AND PALO ALTO IN THE DESERT OF THE REAL!

[i] www.nytimes.com , subscription required
[ii] www.nytimes.com
[iii] www.nytimes.com
[iv] http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/02/15
/science.math.ap/index.html
[v] wwc.cnn.com