Even underpaid teaching assistants can be replaced by virtual TAs in Asia.

Grading papers has traditionally been the work of underpaid teaching assistants, but even that work is being offshored to less expensive advanced degree holders working for Virtual-TA in India, Malaysia, and Singapore, according to this report in The Chronical of Higher Education. Doesn't this mean that colleges and universities with tight budgets must consider virtual TAs as an alternative to hiring more on-site TAs or raising their pay?  If this important part of financial assistance to advanced degree candidates is to shrink, that must have an adverse impact on the affordability of US advanced degree programs.   

Hat tip to Christine.