Chinese "Sea-Turtles" and Importing a Culture of Innovation: Trends in Chinese Human Capital Migration in the 21st Century
Abstract
This thesis explores efforts in China to create an indigenous culture of innovation
aimed at freeing China’s economy from dependence on foreign sources of capital and
technology while propelling China to the top tier of global industrial powers. Beginning
with the historical, cultural and political traditions that led to the establishment
of China as an imitator rather than creative inventor in areas of science and technology,
the study moves to research recent policy efforts in China to stimulate indigenous
innovation through educational reforms and various forms of financial and immigration
incentives. The human resource engineering effort to encourage Chinese students (“sea
turtles”) to study in the West and then return home to engage in entrepreneurial activity
is one element of the Chinese government’s “Long Term Plan” to stimulate innovative
capacity, creative research and development, and economic growth. Using current literature
on innovation, this study draws on a framework illustrating the ways that the innovation
process helps a product move from a creative idea to market-based reality, and analyzes
patent filings and research citations to illustrate a shift in ownership of intellectual
property in China from foreigners, to “sea turtle” Returnees, to locals. This study
concludes with a large body of original survey data on Chinese students in North Carolina’s
Research Triangle Park and in Shanghai, examining different motives for leaving and
staying in China, as well as reactions to new government incentives to entice people
back. What emerges is a surprising twist on the idea of “the brain drain.” More
than sixty percent of China’s wealthiest individuals—themselves sea turtles—are in
the process of emigrating from China to Canada, the US, and other countries. In an
examination of some high-profile entrepreneurs this study points to a lack of confidence
in genuine government reform and a deep concern with corruption on many levels as
reasons why, despite the best laid plans, successful sea turtles are using their international
connections to exit their country of birth.
Description
honors thesis 2013, winner of Distinguished Thesis award in International Comparative
Studies
Type
Honors thesisDepartment
International Comparative StudiesPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/7560Citation
Sieber, Hannah (2013). Chinese "Sea-Turtles" and Importing a Culture of Innovation: Trends in Chinese Human
Capital Migration in the 21st Century. Honors thesis, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/7560.Collections
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