Washington, February 9 US president George W. Bush has been told by his key economic advisors that outsourcing of services to India and other countries in which they have a comparative advantage is a win-win for both exporter and importer and that export and import of services is as logical as the export and import of goods.

N. Gregory Mankiw, chairman of Bush’s council of economic advisers, told a press conference here that the council in a report to Bush made it clear that it makes no difference whether outsourcing in India, for example, is in comparatively low-skilled jobs or high-skilled jobs, say radiology.

If India has a comparative advantage in radiology and the services of radiologists can be transferred over Internet or fibre optics, fewer radiologists would be employed in the US.

But American healthcare services will become cheaper and doctors will specialise in other skills.

Besides Mankiw of Harvard, the council comprises Kristin J. Forbes of MIT and Harvey S. Rosen of Princeton. They are all on leave from their respective institutions while serving the President.