The brain drain from developing countries

Frèdèric Doquier and Catia Batista
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Frèdèric Doquier: Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Frédéric Docquier

World of Labour, 2026, No 31.v2, 31.v2

Abstract: Brain drain refers to the selective emigration of highly educated people, who often have stronger incentives to migrate and face fewer barriers. At first glance, this seems to be an adverse situation: losing doctors, engineers or teachers could hinder development. However, migration can also be beneficial by spurring investment in skills, fueling remittances, fostering innovation, business links, and transfers of knowledge and norms. The net impact depends on the skills involved and the context, creating an opportunity for policies that transform emigration into a driver of development.

Keywords: Migration; brain drain; development; growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 O1 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Journal Article: The brain drain from developing countries (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2026:n:31.v2

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