Entire nations are going head to head in the global war for talent — and using citizenship to buy it. Countries eager to make a splash in the Olympic Games offer “plastic passports” to promising athletes from other regions. The Pew Research Center estimates that at least 4% of the athletes competing in this year’s Games are representing countries other than their birth nations. This practice isn’t new, but it’s been on the rise in recent years. In In 2012, the New York Times published a round-table debate about it. Writers discussed reforms, but no one questioned the premise that, in the 21st century, talent is and will remain mobile.
Buying Gold in the Olympics and in the Global War for Talent
Talent is mobile, but it’s not always portable.
February 20, 2014
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Strategy Planning and Execution. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to develop a winning strategy—and put it to work.