[lxgr]

Only if there's something flowing back that amounts to more than crumbs falling off the edge of the table, i.e. ownership of what these talented people help build, not just salaries/remittances.

Silicon Valley is actually pretty good at that, compared to e.g. academia in the US.

[trhway]

Technological and scientific progress flows back spreading around the world like the tide rising all boats.

[lxgr]

In a world without intellectual property rights and no entrepreneurial moats I'd share your optimism.

[trhway]

Western computers for example were big advance in Russia 30 years ago even though we had to pay for them.