Hard to say what is really going on here or if there is even a problem at all. Academic positions have always been in short supply in many fields, particularly

Hard to say what is really going on here or if there is even a problem at all. Academic positions have always been in short supply in many fields, particularly hard science. However I do get the sense it has gotten worse in recent decades but have no hard data. Are there actually fewer positions available? If so, what is the cause? There is lots of evidence that our universities have become less effective in both teaching and research - prioritizing administrative and income generating functions for example. Perhaps this results in fewer jobs available. Or perhaps professors are simply retiring older (I have heard this too). I agree that blaming Trump seems wrong. While media reports have been hyperbolic little if anything has changed so far. The proposed new "points" system actually gives highest priority to people like that young Chinese Ph.D mentioned in the article. http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/02/politics/cotton-perdue-trump-bill-point-system-merit-based/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/02/politics/cotton-perdue-trump-b...