On Mon, 5 Oct 2004, Tim Churches wrote: ... > > > Yes, and it is a totally unconscionable trade in human resources. > > > > Calle and Tim, > > > > Why is it "unconscionable" to freely trade human resources? > > It is unconscionable because the rich countries do not pay a fair price
Tim, The concept of "trading freely" includes mechanism for establishing "fair" pricing that is acceptable by both seller and buyer. ... > For example, it probably costs the South African government (and hence > the South African people) between US$50,000 and US$150,000 to train a > medical student through to being a specialist physician or surgeon. So what? It probably costs the same or more to train an U.S. medical student. Does that mean it is "unconscionable" for the people of France or South Africa to offer a position to this physician? > When the UK, Canada or Australia recruits such a person to work in the > UK, Canada or Australia, do they reimburse the South African government > for the cost Double standard you use. If I decide to move to South Africa, would South Africans reimburse the U.S. government? ... > That situation seems unconscionable to me, especially when the relative > need for trained health staff in South Africa is so much greater than in > the UK, Canada and Australia. Needs typically exheed the ability to fill the need; this is called "scarcity" in economics, please read: http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/economics/scarcityandchoices1.htm With greater scarcity, each unit of goods/service will command a higher price. In a free market, the higher price will eventually cause increased availability of the goods/services and reduction of scarcity. On the other hand, if price-control is instituted, then the relative shortage will never be resolved. ... > > And it is _harmful_ to offer > > the same opportunities to individuals from "poor" countries? > > It is harmful for governments of rich nations to actively recruit and to > facilitate the migration of desperately needed, expensively-trained > individuals from poor countries. It is not as simple as that. Most expensively-trained and talented individuals choose to migrate even in the face of active discouragements and barriers. > > As we all know, major motivation for free software is to increase freedom > > and lower costs. If vendor lock-in impedes progress and adds to > > information costs, country-of-birth lock-in carries even higher human and > > economic costs. > > Neither Calle or I, or anyone else, have suggested that people be > prevented from migration. ... ok - as long as you are not advocating discrimination based on country-of-origin. Best regards, Andrew --- Andrew P. Ho, M.D. OIO: Open Infrastructure for Outcomes www.TxOutcome.Org
