The young thousand talents (YTT) program has been the largest among various global diasporas attraction programs in China, and its impact assessment has generated mixed results. Using the first five groups of YTT program members as the treatment group, this study constructed a control group using a local and focal matching strategy and enhanced the program effects estimation by a quasi-experimental design. Results from difference-in-difference (DID) and propensity score matching (PSM) regression models showed that the YTT program had overall positive treatment effects on international research publications measured by quantity, contribution, and impact. Splitting the control group into two sub-groups of other overseas returnees and local researchers, the PSM models exhibited interestingly uneven program effects. The program effects varied by measuring methods, among different prestige levels of universities, regions, and fields. As hypothesized, PhD training, previous overseas research experiences, and current research contexts had significant controlling effects on research publications, but sometimes in the opposite direction. Although the global mobility has provided overseas returnees initial academic advantages, their continued higher research productivity seemed to require substantial resources input and quality-focused reform of research policies and practices.