Human capital flight



Azadeh Abbasi

Emigration is the act of leaving one’s native country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state, is termed migration. There are many reasons why people might choose to emigrate. Some are for political or economic reasons, or for personal reasons like finding a spouse while visiting another country and emigrating to be with them. Many older people living in rich nations with cold climates choose to move to warmer climates when they retire. Many political or economic emigrants move together with their families toward new regions or new countries where they hope to find peace or job opportunities not available to them in their original location. Emigration had a profound influence on the world in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, when millions of poor families left Europe for the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, the rest of Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. 

 

 

Push and pull factors are those factors which either forcefully push people into migration or attract them. A push factor is forceful, and a factor which relates to the country from which a person migrates. It is generally some problem which results in people wanting to migrate. Different types of push factors can be seen further below. A push factor is a flaw or distress that drives a person away from a certain place. A pull factor is something concerning the country to which a person migrates. It is generally a benefit that attracts people to a certain place. Push and pull factors are usually considered as north and south poles on a magnet. 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS4U_lFhBNA

 

What is brain drain and How big is it?

 

Human capital flight "Brain drain" refers to the emigration of intelligent to search the better standard of living and quality of life, higher salaries, access to advanced technologies and more stable political conditions in different places worldwide. This migration of professionals for better opportunities, is growing worldwide because of several problems in developing countries.  



• Why do talented people leave their countries and go abroad?
• What are the consequences of such migrations especially on the educational sector?
• What policies can be adopted to stem such movements from developing countries to developed countries?

 

 The term "'brain drain" was first popularized in the 1950s with reference to the immigration to the United States of first-rank scientists from countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the former Soviet Union; it is now used in a more general sense to designate the international transfer of human capital (people with higher education) from developing to developed countries.

The brain drain has basically a negative externality imposed on those left behind; the rich countries getting richer and the poor countries getting poorer; During the last two decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the magnitude of the brain drain.

The loss of skilled, intellectual and technical labor through their movement to more favorable geographic, economic, or professional environment. It can be simply defined as the mass emigration of technically skilled people from one country to another country.  This phenomenon is perhaps most problematic for developing nations, where it is widespread, in these countries, higher education and professional certification are often viewed as the surest  path to escape from a troubled economy or difficult political situation.

Who is impacted by brain drain?                            

 Brain drain has impact on:

1-  the migrants: individuals and their families benefit economically and professionally by living in rich and more advanced countries.

 

2-  The countries they leave: these are said to lose because they lose part of their human capital and investment.

 

3-  The countries they join: these are said to gain because they get qualified and talented human capital without having to pay for their education and training.