“What are you going to do for your country?” was the question asked to my friend, who is living in the US for a long time after his graduation. The question made me feel guilty and this economic equation is to console myself, as I have been living abroad for 2 years now.
Moreover this question is not posed to someone who lives in the country and lives his day-to-day life. For people who argue that I am a brain-drain, I am certainly not one, because what I am doing is not rocket science and could be done by any average brain from any part of the world.
Also We are no comparison to the doctors working in the rural areas, honest officers working in the state administration, soldiers guarding the ever tense borders, scientists working in state owned research institutes, social workers working in the health, education, child welfare, upliftment of the poor and the underprivileged.
Lets assume I earn 100Units of money working in India and see how much I contribute to the economy.
100Units à minus 20% state taxes à get 80Units take home à I pump 40Units in to economy (part of it goes in to traders’ pockets as black money) à 40Units goes saving in long term investments which could be used by the states development.
Let’s assume I earn 400Units of money working abroad and see much I contribute to the economy.
400Units à minus 30% state taxes à get 280Units take home à I pump 100Units in to the economy à 180Units I invest in India which is indirectly used for states development.
Bringing in 180Units is better than bring 100Units to the country’s economy. That’s my understanding with my little economics!!!
Think- You and I paid only Rs.7100/year for 4 years of college education-Free books & accommodation included. Everything was heavily subsidized for us.
ReplyDeleteThe expectation on us would be more, I would assume. More than just sending money?
I appreciate your thought.. There is certainly more we can do. The equation is just a consolation. At the same time, we should not allow some cynics to question us. Just because they live in the country they cant question us. Ofcourse someone from the paragraph 3 can question us. :)
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