Brain Drain and Inequality Across Nations

Frédéric Docquier

No 2440, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Is the brain drain a curse or a boon for developing countries? This paper reviews what is known to date about the magnitude of the brain drain from developing to developed countries, its determinants and the way it affects the well-being of those left behind. First, I present alternative measures of the brain drain and characterize its evolution over the last 25 years. Then, I review the theoretical and empirical literature. Although the brain drain is a major source of concern for origin countries, it also induces positive effects through various channels such as remittances, return migration, diaspora externalities, quality of governance and increasing return to education. Whilst many scientists and international institutions praise the unambiguous benefits of unskilled migration for developing countries, my analysis suggests that a limited but positive skilled emigration rate (say between 5 and 10 percent) can also be good for development. Nevertheless, the current spatial distribution of the brain drain is such that many poor countries are well above this level, such as sub-Saharan African and Central American countries.

Keywords: economic development; international migration; human capital; brain drain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2006-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-dev and nep-hrm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (41)

Published - published as 'Fuite des cerveaux et inégalités entre pays' in: Revue d'Economie du Développement, 2007, 21 (2), 49-88

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