1/OK, so let me explain why declining international student numbers - which are almost certainly due to Trump's restrictionist policies - are a bad thing for the United States. 
2/International students are the cream of the crop of literally BILLIONS of people.
The United States has a lot of talent, but we have only 300 million people.
China and India, together, have 8 times as many people.
That's a LOT of talent.
The United States has a lot of talent, but we have only 300 million people.
China and India, together, have 8 times as many people.
That's a LOT of talent.
3/Some people think that accepting international students means that America doesn't focus on educating our own workforce.
But that's totally wrong.
First of all, America graduates TONS of people in STEM subjects. More than 2.5 times as many as Japan.
But that's totally wrong.
First of all, America graduates TONS of people in STEM subjects. More than 2.5 times as many as Japan.
4/Even as the number of international students has risen, American educational attainment has risen right alongside it.
5/This means foreign students are not muscling American students aside.
Instead, what's happening is that foreign students are PAYING for the education of American students.
businessinsider.com/foreign-studen…
Instead, what's happening is that foreign students are PAYING for the education of American students.
businessinsider.com/foreign-studen…
6/The total number of students at American universities is NOT FIXED.
Each international student brings in a pot of money that can then be - and generally IS - used to subsidize the education of American students.
Each international student brings in a pot of money that can then be - and generally IS - used to subsidize the education of American students.
7/Of course, international student tuition also represents an EXPORT INDUSTRY for small college towns across the American countryside, helping to revitalize regions that would otherwise decline.
8/So next time you hear someone say "Why don't we focus on educating our own people instead of bringing in all these international students?", you'll know that this is a bad question.
In fact, doing one helps us do the other!!
In fact, doing one helps us do the other!!
9/But that's not all that international students do for America.
Their presence improves and increases research labs at American universities.
That generates business activity in small cities across America.
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
Their presence improves and increases research labs at American universities.
That generates business activity in small cities across America.
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
10/International students are an important part of the university-centered regional development strategy that is pulling towns and regions all across America out of the hole dug by the Rust Belt and the Great Recession.
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
11/Want to revive the Midwest? You're going to need second-tier universities to become first-tier universities, and create local innovation.
International students are very important to that strategy.
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
International students are very important to that strategy.
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
12/Of course, international students also often stay and work in America, as @william_r_kerr documents in his excellent new book, "The Gift of Global Talent": amazon.com/Gift-Global-Ta…
13/So if we want to A) subsidize tuition for American kids, and B) help revitalize declining American regions, we need international students!
Which means Trump's approach of harassing them and turning them away is a losing approach for America! forbes.com/sites/stuartan…
Which means Trump's approach of harassing them and turning them away is a losing approach for America! forbes.com/sites/stuartan…
14/Americans will be HURT, not helped, by excluding international students.
Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot.
(end)
Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot.
(end)
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