The Economic Consequences of ‘Brain Drain’ of the Best and Brightest

Microeconomic Evidence from Five Countries

Dados Bibliográficos

ID9706316
AutoresJohn Gibson (0000-0003-3886-6873, University of Waikato), David Mckenzie (0000-0002-1885-2426, University of Waikato World Bank)
Ano2012
Volume122
Fascículo560
Páginas339-375
Data de publicação2012-05-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Economic Journal (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0013-0133 • E-ISSN: 1468-0297
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-0297.2012.02498.x
OpenAlexW1496320928
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas55
Referências citadas46

Brain drain has long been a common concern for migrant-sending countries, particularly for small countries where high-skilled emigration rates are highest. However, while economic theory suggests a number of possible benefits, in addition to costs, from skilled emigration, the evidence base on many of these is very limited. Moreover, the lessons from case studies of benefits to China and India from skilled emigration may not be relevant to much smaller countries. This paper presents the results of innovative surveys which tracked academic high achievers from five countries to wherever they moved in the world in order to directly measure at the micro level the channels through which high-skilled emigration affects the sending country. The results show that there are very high levels of emigration and of return migration among the very highly skilled; the income gains to the best and brightest from migrating are very large, and an order of magnitude or more greater than any other effect; there are large benefits from migration in terms of postgraduate education; most high-skilled migrants from poorer countries send remittances; but that involvement in trade and foreign direct investment is a rare occurrence. There is considerable knowledge flow from both current and return migrants about job and study opportunities abroad, but little net knowledge sharing from current migrants to home country governments or businesses. Finally, the fiscal costs vary considerably across countries, and depend on the extent to which governments rely on progressive income taxation

Brain drain · Demographic economics · Development economics · Economics · Emigration · Foreign direct investment · International economics · Investment (military · Labour economics · Macroeconomics · Order (exchange · Political science · Economic Growth and Productivity · Finance · Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth · Migration and Labor Dynamics