The World’s Best and Brightest Are Moving, but Not to America

• Migration patterns are shifting as poorer countries' best and brightest opt for new global hubs like Dubai rather than traditional Western destinations.
• Immigrants now seek respect and professional opportunity over just entry, challenging old assumptions about immigrant desires.

Countries are increasingly competing to attract immigrants, especially skilled workers, because people are the scarcest resource globally.

Lydia Polgreen highlights that many migrants no longer see the U.S. or Western Europe as their default destinations. Instead, places like Dubai attract talented immigrants due to perceived opportunities and professional respect without the indignities often experienced during immigration processes in Western countries.

An example is a Ugandan lawyer who thrived in Dubai, preferring participation in a country's economy over permanent citizenship. This shift signals a move from immigration as a path to belonging to immigration as a transactional participation based on mutual benefit.

This dynamic challenges long-held assumptions about migration and the nature of citizenship and belonging in a changing global landscape.

• Lydia Polgreen shared her personal connection as the child of an immigrant whose parents faced professional setbacks despite high qualifications.
• This highlights immigrant experiences of skill underutilization and the challenges of belonging.