The International Migration of Health Professionals

Michel Grignon (), Yaw Owusu-Ansah () and Arthur Sweetman

No 6517, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Health workforce shortages in developed countries are perceived to be central drivers of health professionals' international migration, one ramification being negative impacts on developing nations' healthcare delivery. After a descriptive international overview, selected economic issues are discussed for developed and developing countries. Health labour markets' unique characteristics imply great complexity in developed economies involving government intervention, licensure, regulation, and (quasi-)union activity. These features affect migrants' decisions, economic integration, and impacts on the receiving nations' health workforce and society. Developing countries sometimes educate citizens in expectation of emigration, while others pursue international treaties in attempts to manage migrant flows.

Keywords: health professionals; international medical graduates; migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 I18 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42 pages
Date: 2012-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cwa, nep-hea and nep-mig
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

Published - Published as: Grignon, Michel, Yaw Owusu, and Arthur Sweetman. 2013. “The International Migration of Health Professionals” in International Handbook on the Economics of Migration, Amelie F. Constant and Klaus F. Zimmermann (eds). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar; 75-97.

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Chapter: The international migration of health professionals (2013)
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