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I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but it really is good for us to export those jobs.

Define "those jobs" -- do you think that just low end wage jobs that require no skill are going overseas? Just today on CNBC they stated that a radiologist in India makes $20k a year compared to the $300k one makes here. What is that radiologist that just lost his job going to do that's "more beneficial to our economy"?

Just today on CNBC they stated that a radiologist in India makes $20k a year compared to the $300k one makes here. What is that radiologist that just lost his job going to do that's "more beneficial to our economy"?

Assuming that radiologist stays in India, he has zero effect on our economy. Assuming the higher wage entices him to move to the US, we just gained a skilled radiologist.

Define "those jobs"...

Doesn't matter. What matters is where a person adds value. As I said, see Ricardo for details. Until you've digested that, we're not even speaking the same language on this subject.

And it doesn't take years to grok this. Comparative Advantage can be explained in a few pages and less than fifteen minutes of time. And to take away your last excuse for learning it, I've even found a place on the web to do so. Go here.

There is one caveat that some other people here have mentioned. Just because something (i.e. reading a radiology exam) used to be a high-priced skill that commanded lots of money does not mean it stays that way forever. As the expertise spreads around, and the supply of expertise increases, demand drops and thus price must drop as well. This is economic reality, and no government policy can do away with it.

That means those high-priced radiologists have to either (a) become more productive (via technology, for example), or (b) drop their price, or (c) move to something more high-value (e.g., reading some new-fangled diagnostic test).

Those of us in the computer business grapple with this problem all the time. It doesn't matter how much money we make today - we have to strive to become more productive and stay up to date as our current expertise becomes more prevalent and its value goes down.

What is that radiologist that just lost his job going to do that's "more beneficial to our economy"?

Start a start-up business, as did my brother-in-law. He refurbishes X-ray cameras, cassettes, etc. To the tune of about $3Million a year and employs 14 people. Expansion is underway, as well.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

"Just today on CNBC they stated that a radiologist in India makes $20k a year compared to the $300k one makes here. What is that radiologist that just lost his job going to do that's "more beneficial to our economy"?"

The answer is obvious, if you'd stop to think. Now, for the same price we can have 15 radiologists improving the health care of all, at no greater cost. Fifteen times as many lives saved. Fifteen times as many people restored to health. I suppose you'd rather have fifteen times more sickness and death just so that one radiologist can make $300K?