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  • "Many top notch researchers in the U.S.A are not/were not even American" -- iirc, the majority of PhD students are foreigners. Brain-drain may be one of the factors that keeps the US in the game.
    – Raphael
    Commented Oct 10, 2015 at 9:59
  • 5
    The question is then why would those top researchers primordially choose USA instead of any other place.
    – Davidmh
    Commented Oct 10, 2015 at 12:04
  • 1
    @Davidmh Because few people look beyond "went to Harvard" on a resumé? The name itself counts for something. Plus, for many a top US university is certainly a big step upwards (if not necessarily a step to the top, always).
    – Raphael
    Commented Oct 10, 2015 at 18:36
  • 1
    @Raphael Another reason that foreign students choose U.S. universities is the ability to get into the U.S. in the first place. Salaries (especially for highly-skilled tech workers and academics) tend to be higher in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world. It's much easier to get those jobs if you have at least part of your collegiate education from the U.S. (both in terms of getting permission for immigration and in terms of being accepted for the positions.)
    – reirab
    Commented Oct 11, 2015 at 3:21
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    @Raphael but that is a circular argument. No one would go to Harvard for the prestige before it was famous.
    – Davidmh
    Commented Oct 12, 2015 at 6:15