The presence of GE's headquarters will definitely bring executives and directors. I'm going to go ahead and guess that we're not going to see any real research and development activity going on in their new building.

As far as "Boston brain drain", I don't think it's true except maybe within the borders of Boston proper. If you expand the scope to "within 495", I believe there's a completely different story.

They can't build high tech and pharmaceutical company buildings fast enough in Cambridge, especially around Kendall Square. There's plenty of activity in the buildings and office parks around 128. There are even new high-tech companies popping up in Worcester, where the rent is cheaper, and Boston isn't too far away.

If we're talking "brain drain" from Boston, the population numbers that matter in this discussion is not the general population of the City of Boston, but the number of employment-age people in the population inside 495 (say, age 21-67) who hold college degrees. If you want to get all specific with the pharma and high-tech, track those who hold STEM degrees and are working in a technical field.