Globalization, Migration, and the Challenges of Development in Africa

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Akokpari
Keyword(s):  
International Migration ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Foreign Direct Investments ◽  
African Development ◽  
Development Feature ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Migrant Remittances ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe paper argues that, while globalization is a catalyst for international migration, its impact on Africa's development remains polemical. Generally, discussions on the impact of international migration on African development feature two contrasting views. One view, which is gradually gaining currency, points to tangible benefits from migration in the form of migrant remittance, which recent World Bank reports identify as the second largest form of capital flow to Africa after foreign direct investments (FDI). This view thus sees the impact of international migration on African development as positive. This paper, however, takes a different view and argues that the adverse effects of international migration on Africa, in the form of brain drain—the emigration of Africa's trained professionals—far outweighs the perceived advantages associated with migrant remittances. Consequently, on the aggregate, Africa's development suffers under the weight of international migration. The paper thus suggests the formulation of workable policies by the AU to manage the brain drain. Such policy measures should include a conscious attempt to address the root causes of the so-called "push factors" which instigate the emigration of Africa's brains in the first instance.

On the Brain Drain of Africans to America: Some Methodological Observations

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Nii-Amoo Dodoo ◽  
Baffour Takyi ◽  
Jesse Mann
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
The World ◽  
Relative Comparisons ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

AbstractRecurring debates about the impact of the brain drain— the developing world's loss of human capital to more developed countries—has motivated estimation of the magnitude of the phenomenon, most recently by the World Bank. Although frequently cited as a key contributor to Africa's wanting development record, what constitutes the "brain-drain" is not always clearly defined. Today, in the absence of an accounting system, resolution of the definitional and measurement question depends on relative comparisons of measurement variants, which will identify definitional shortcomings by clarifying the merits and demerits of these variants, and thereby suggest corrective imputations. This paper compares the World Bank's approach to a chronological precedent (Dodoo 1997) to clarify the value of variant comparisons. The resultant implications for corrections are also discussed.

The impact of MENA-to-EU migration in the context of demographic change

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRÉDÉRIC DOCQUIER ◽  
LUCA MARCHIORI
Keyword(s):  
Brain Drain ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Education Attainment ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Income Per Capita ◽  
Moderate Reduction ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Detrimental Impact ◽  
The Brain

AbstractWe analyze the consequences of increasing MENA-to-EU migration on both sending and receiving regions. Using a general equilibrium model, we find that increasing MENA-to-EU migration generates significant changes in EU15 tax rates and income per capita. Compared to a non-selective immigration shock, selecting immigrants leads to a moderate reduction in tax rates, but to a greater impact on income per capita in the EU15. Emigration, especially if high-skilled, has a detrimental impact on MENA tax rates. Finally, the negative effects in MENA are mitigated if the brain drain leads to side-effects or is accompanied by increased education attainment at origin.

Should a Cosmopolitan Worry about the “Brain Drain”?

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devesh Kapur ◽  
John McHale
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
International Migration ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
Policy Response ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain

Many developing countries are experiencing high rates of emigration of their highly skilled citizens. This essay asks if a cosmopolitan—who we take to be generally supportive of freer international migration—should worry about the adverse effects on those remaining behind in poor countries. We document the extent of skilled outflows, discuss the causes and consequences of those outflows, and offer principles to guide a cosmopolitan policy response. We argue that skilled emigration harms long-run institutional development. The right response, however, is not to shut down the one reasonably liberal element of the international migration regime but to look for ways to make international migration work better for development.

Youth unemployment, the brain drain and education policy in Croatia: A call for joining forces and for new visions

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Hornstein Tomić ◽  
Karin Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Education Policy ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Political Spectrum ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Since the economic recession and European Union accession, Croatia has seen a drastic increase in the emigration of tertiary-educated young people seeking further qualification and employment abroad. The brain drain has caused grave concern among political parties across the political spectrum and society as a whole. Recently, however, the tone of discourse has turned from accusations of national ‘disloyalty’ to engagement with how to mitigate the push factors for emigration on the one hand, and how to attract educated and successful migrants back to the country on the other. Changes to the education system are seen by experts and the public alike as one of the key factors in reducing the mismatch of prevailing education and training programmes with the specialist knowledge requirements of the domestic labour market and in improving youth employability. However, efforts to introduce urgently needed education reforms have recently been stalled by a lack of political consensus on aspects of a proposed reform package and its implementation rooted in the deep ideological rifts of post-socialist transformation. This contribution investigates how the impact of the brain drain, as well a shift towards recognition of the possible benefits of circular migration, have affected recent discourse on education policy and the growing involvement of non-governmental organizations and initiatives in introducing a more practice-based orientation to education on all levels.

scholarly journals Brain drain: The impact on taxation and measures to combat the brain drain

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-248
Author(s):  
Katerina Perrou ◽  
Katerina Savvaidou
Keyword(s):  
Brain Drain ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

The impact of brain drain in underserved countries: implementing a global ethical leadership approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-222
Author(s):  
Marie-Lyne Grenier
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Worker ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Ethical Leadership ◽  
International Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Care Worker ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Purpose – Health care worker migration from underserved nations to developed nations, also known as the “brain drain” effect, is a leading cause of worldwide health inequalities. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors which have and continue to contribute to “brain drain,” investigate the human consequences of health care worker migration, and explore the ways in which a global ethical leadership approach could be used to help address the issue of “brain drain” and its resulting deleterious effects on global health equality. Design/methodology/approach – An argument is made supporting the need for a global leadership approach that is centered on the enforcement of ethical international health care worker recruitment policies and collaborative endeavors between wealthy and underserved nations to help improve the working conditions of health care workers worldwide. Findings – The successful use of ethical leadership approaches in addressing and reversing the “brain drain” effect has been documented in Thailand and Ireland. These case examples could be used as templates for future legislative action on a global scale. Originality/value – This piece highlights the urgent need for a global ethical leadership approach to help address the issue of “brain drain” in underserved nations and provides concrete strategies to help guide legislative decision making.

scholarly journals The Brain Drain Potential of Students in the African Health and Nonhealth Sectors

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Crush ◽  
Wade Pendleton
Keyword(s):  
Brain Drain ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Health Systems ◽  
African Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Very High

The departure of health professionals to Europe and North America is placing an intolerable burden on public health systems in many African countries. Various retention, recall, and replacement policies to ameliorate the impact of this brain drain have been suggested, none of which have been particularly successful to date. The key question for the future is whether the brain drain of health sector skills is likely to continue and whether the investment of African countries in training health professionals will continue to be lost through emigration. This paper examines the emigration intentions of trainee health professionals in six Southern African countries. The data was collected by the Southern African Migration Program (SAMP) in a survey of final-year students across the region which included 651 students training for the health professions. The data also allows for the comparison of health sector with other students. The analysis presented in this paper shows very high emigration potential amongst all final-year students. Health sector students do show a slightly higher inclination to leave than those training to work in other sectors. These findings present a considerable challenge for policy makers seeking to encourage students to stay at home and work after graduation.

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