Pronouncements like the following have become common currency: “The United States is falling behind in a global ‘race for talent’ that will determine the country’s future prosperity, power, and security.” In Falling Behind?, Michael Teitelbaum argues that alarms like this one, which he quotes, are not only overblown but are often sounded by people who do not disclose their motives. Teitelbaum vehemently denies that we are lagging in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, now commonly abbreviated as STEM. Still, he writes that there are facts to be faced:
In less than 15 years, China has moved from 14th place to second place in published research articles.
General Electric has now located the majority of its R&D personnel outside the United States.
Only four of the top ten companies receiving United States patents last year were United States companies.
The United States ranks 27th among developed nations in the proportion of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in science or engineering.