Brain Drain

Brain Drain

“Brain drain” or human capital flight is the emigration of trained and skilled individuals ("human capital") to other countries. It refers to the emigration of doctors, engineers, researchers and teachers to more favourable environments. “Brain Drain” is therefore a potentially serious barrier to economic growth, development and poverty reduction in developing countries.Scientists, engineers, academics and physicians, who have been trained with little available resources in the hope of a better future in their countries, desert and flee. However, this has simply left helplessness to developing countries that have been loosing thousands of their highly educated workers for the benefits of rich countries such as the US, Canada and Australia.

Read More

Brain Drain

Brain Drain

Brain Drain is considered a problem of extreme importance for many developing countries. The concept of "brain drain" indicates the “flight” of resources in the form of human capital, especially the migration of skilled professionals. A large number of highly educated individuals from developing countries work in North America and Western Europe.

The migration of academics, scientists and other experts with high skills, from developing countries to Europe and North America has reached alarming proportions. A recent World Bank report estimated that 23,000 qualified academicians were emigrating from Africa each year.
The causes of brain drain vary from one country to another, but the most common causes are mainly economical. These highly skilled workers and graduates emigrate in search of better working and living conditions. They intent to avoid economic hardships prevailing in their countries of origin: poor performance, insufficient creation of news jobs and limited capacity to absorb qualified personnel. Inadequate national policies for training, employing, and giving incentives to qualified professionals are additional reasons to leave the country.
Some developed countries have put in place, emigration policies and laws which actively seek to attract and retain qualified personnel from other parts of the world. Consequently, those leaving are the very people that developing countries need to develop their economies. They are unable to pass on their skills to next generation of Africans.

This phenomenon has two negative effects. On the one hand, the origin countries lose human capital and thus are deprived of one of the engines of future economic growth; on the other hand, these countries waste a considerable part of their public funds invested during these emigrants' education and formation.

In order to stop or at least to reduce this collective flight, developing countries should think of practical measures to curve this phenomenon. Policy makers in poor countries should seriously think of offering these emigrants higher wages at home since they are driven away by a strong desire for a better life and better living conditions. Additionally, better working facilities and satisfactory working conditions may dissuade these skills and competencies from leaving their countries, which would turn brain drain into brain gain.

Read More

Brain Drain

“Brain Drain”

The reasons why skilled and talented people emigrate from developing countries are:

A- Push factors

1) Under employment/ full unemployment
2) Economic under development
3) Low wages/salaries
4) Lack of research centres and other facilities
5) Discrimination in appointment and promotion/ corruption
6) Poor working facilities and lack of satisfactory working conditions
7) Lack of scientific tradition and culture
8) Unsuitable institution
9) Desire for a better life/ better living standards
10) Desire for higher qualification and recognition

B- Pull factors:

1) Better economic prospects
2) Higher salaries and income
3) Better level of living and way of life
4) Better research facilities
5) Modern educational system and better opportunity for higher qualifications
6) Prestige of foreign training
7) Intellectual freedom/ freedom of speech
8) Better working condition and better employment opportunities
9) Presence of a rich, scientific and cultural tradition

Read More