Our recent report on Immigrant Nobel Laureates explores the transformative contributions of immigrants and international students to the intellectual and academic landscape of the United States. The Nobel Prize is awarded in six categories: Chemistry, Economics, Medicine, Physics, Literature and Peace. Between 1901 and 2024, 55 percent of 749 academic awards (i.e. chemistry, economics, medicine, and physics) went to the U.S.-affiliated scholars. Among the 410 individuals academic Nobel Laureates, 142 (35%) are immigrants to the United States. Nearly half (44%) of these 142 immigrant Nobel Laureates obtained their highest educational degree in the United States.
Figure 1: Nativity of Nobel Laureates
Our analysis of the journal articles published by the 2024 Nobel Laureates in academic categories finds that U.S. institutions are at the center of a global collaborative network of co-authors. By analyzing the journal articles authored by 20 recent non-U.S. Nobel Laureates, we find that even non-U.S. Nobel Laureates have very strong collaborative ties with U.S.-affiliated scholars (Figure 2; click here to view the interactive network).
Figure 2: Co-Author Network of Select 20 Foreign Academic Laureates
Note: The size of the bubbles indicates the number of articles authored (or co-authored) by scholars based in the corresponding country. The width of the connecting line between the two countries shows the strength of collaboration measured by the number of articles in which authors from those two countries have collaborated. The color of the bubble shows the average number of citations of documents in which researchers in the corresponding countries have collaborated (blue refers to low citation and yellow refers to high citation). Click here to view the interactive network.
Despite the United States’ leading position in terms of the number of international students it hosts, it is losing its share of global international students. Top competitors like Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other European countries are also proximate to and aligned with the U.S.-centered scholarly network of highly successful scholars. As these competing countries further develop their academic institutions, the United States may lose at least some share of the global talent of the highest quality. There is some evidence that, in the post-Cold War period, the U.S. has lost a bit of momentum in attracting influential scholars, and the destination of Nobel-producing scholars is getting diversified.
To maintain its competitive edge in the near term, the United States must implement robust policies to attract and retain international students and scholars. Lessons from competing countries indicate that measures such as reducing administrative hurdles for obtaining visas, streamlining the process for maintaining legal status, providing clearer pathways for post-graduation employment and residency, and offering work authorization for spouses of international students and scholars can significantly enhance the United States' appeal to global talent.
Click here to access our recent report on Immigrant Nobel Laureates.
December 02, 2024