Look at Singapore as example of evolution of tertiary sector. In the 80s, the Bureau of Manpower (might have changed name by now) would sponsor students to go abroad on condition they'd work for the govt for a period upon return (or reimburse the cost if not). This allowed them to build up a cadre in technical/management classes. Since then, they've heavily recruited for NUS and other unis to the extent it is now an export services sector. However, attempts at making SG an R&D powerhouse is ... mixed. Their industrial policies tried to make bioinformatics a pillar but that didn't pan out, with current emphasis on logistics and fintech. It could well be that in coming decades China with confucian emphasis on learning could reverse the brain drain (so long as learn mandarin).
Re: Can second-gen integrate into mainstream America
As second-gen whose parents immigrated in the 90s, I think the answer for our generation has been “No.” There are pockets of an “Asian America” we can integrate into, primarily on the coasts and some major cities inland, but 2019-2020 made it very clear that mainstream acceptance will not happen for our generation. This is reinforced by the need for any ethnic Chinese political or business candidate to distance themselves from their “Chineseness.”
Based on the past 5 years of escalating mainstream anti-China rhetoric, I doubt third-gen (or 00后 second-gen) will fare much better. IMO the trend for 00后-10后 abcs will actually be away from integration/assimilation and toward rediscovering their Chinese roots.
Look at Singapore as example of evolution of tertiary sector. In the 80s, the Bureau of Manpower (might have changed name by now) would sponsor students to go abroad on condition they'd work for the govt for a period upon return (or reimburse the cost if not). This allowed them to build up a cadre in technical/management classes. Since then, they've heavily recruited for NUS and other unis to the extent it is now an export services sector. However, attempts at making SG an R&D powerhouse is ... mixed. Their industrial policies tried to make bioinformatics a pillar but that didn't pan out, with current emphasis on logistics and fintech. It could well be that in coming decades China with confucian emphasis on learning could reverse the brain drain (so long as learn mandarin).
Wow good observation from SG
Not just rethinking…actively moving.
Re: Can second-gen integrate into mainstream America
As second-gen whose parents immigrated in the 90s, I think the answer for our generation has been “No.” There are pockets of an “Asian America” we can integrate into, primarily on the coasts and some major cities inland, but 2019-2020 made it very clear that mainstream acceptance will not happen for our generation. This is reinforced by the need for any ethnic Chinese political or business candidate to distance themselves from their “Chineseness.”
Based on the past 5 years of escalating mainstream anti-China rhetoric, I doubt third-gen (or 00后 second-gen) will fare much better. IMO the trend for 00后-10后 abcs will actually be away from integration/assimilation and toward rediscovering their Chinese roots.