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Documenting the brain drain of « la creme de la creme »: Three case-studies on international migration at the upper tail of the education distribution

Author

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  • Frederic DOCQUIER

    (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES), IZA and CReAM)

  • Hillel RAPOPORT

    (Department of Economics, Bar-Ilan University, EQUIPPE, Université de Lille II, CReAM and CEPREMAP)

Abstract
Most of the recent literature on the effects of the brain drain on source countries consists of theoretical papers and cross-country empirical studies. In this paper we complement the literature through three case studies on very different regional and professional contexts: the African medical brain drain, the exodus of European researchers to the United States, and the contribution of the Indian diaspora to the rise of the IT sector in India. While the three case studies concern the very upper tail of the skill and education distribution, their effects of source countries are contrasted: clearly negative in the case of the exodus of European researchers, clearly positive in the case of the Indian diaspora’s contribution to putting India on the IT global map, and mixed in the case of the medical brain drain out of Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederic DOCQUIER & Hillel RAPOPORT, 2009. "Documenting the brain drain of « la creme de la creme »: Three case-studies on international migration at the upper tail of the education distribution," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2009031, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvir:2009031
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    2. Frédéric Docquier & Hillel Rapoport, 2012. "Globalization, Brain Drain, and Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 50(3), pages 681-730, September.
    3. Janger, Jürgen & Nowotny, Klaus, 2016. "Job choice in academia," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(8), pages 1672-1683.
    4. Peter Huber, 2014. "Entlohnungs- und Anreizstrukturen in der Universitätsforschung. Analyse standardisierter Forscherprofile," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 87(1), pages 67-79, January.
    5. Gibson, John & McKenzie, David, 2014. "Scientific mobility and knowledge networks in high emigration countries: Evidence from the Pacific," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(9), pages 1486-1495.
    6. Jürgen Janger & Klaus Nowotny, 2014. "Bestimmungsfaktoren für die Arbeitsplatzwahl von Wissenschaftern und Wissenschafterinnen," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 87(1), pages 81-89, January.
    7. Sara Binassi & Giovanni Guidetti & Mariele Macaluso & Giulio Pedrini, 2021. "Assessing selection patterns and wage differentials of high-skilled migrants. Evidence from Italian graduates working abroad," QUADERNI DI ECONOMIA DEL LAVORO, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(113), pages 83-115.
    8. Lois Labrianidis & Theodosis Sykas, 2017. "Why High School Students Aspire to Emigrate: Evidence from Greece," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 107-130, February.
    9. Boncea Irina, 2013. "Medical Brain Drain - A Theoretical Approach," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 64-71, July.
    10. Jürgen Janger & Matthias Firgo & Kathrin Hofmann & Agnes Kügler & Anna Strauss-Kollin & Gerhard Streicher & Hans Pechar, 2017. "Wirtschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Effekte von Universitäten," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 60794.
    11. Dustmann, Christian & Fadlon, Itzhak & Weiss, Yoram, 2011. "Return migration, human capital accumulation and the brain drain," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(1), pages 58-67, May.
    12. Jürgen Janger & Anna Strauss-Kollin & David Campbell, 2013. "Academic Careers: A Cross-country Perspective. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 37," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 46923.
    13. Driouchi, Ahmed & Kadiri, Molk, 2010. "Emigration of Skilled Labor under Risk Aversion: The Case of Medical Doctors from Middle Eastern and North African Economies," MPRA Paper 22810, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 20 May 2010.
    14. Irina Boncea, 2014. "Brain drain in Romania: Factors influencing physicians` emigration," Journal of Community Positive Practices, Catalactica NGO, issue 1, pages 64-74.
    15. Thijs A. Velema, 2012. "The contingent nature of brain gain and brain circulation: their foreign context and the impact of return scientists on the scientific community in their country of origin," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 93(3), pages 893-913, December.
    16. Ernest Miguelez & Carsten Fink, 2013. "Measuring the International Mobility of Inventors: A New Database," WIPO Economic Research Working Papers 08, World Intellectual Property Organization - Economics and Statistics Division, revised May 2013.
    17. Wifo, 2014. "WIFO-Monatsberichte, Heft 1/2014," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 87(1), January.
    18. repec:wip:wpaper:8 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Jürgen Janger & Klaus Nowotny, 2013. "Career Choices in Academia. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 36," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 46922.
    20. Ernest Miguélez & Rosina Moreno, 2014. "What Attracts Knowledge Workers? The Role Of Space And Social Networks," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 33-60, January.
    21. repec:lic:licosd:38116 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Brain drain; international migration; African medical brain drain; European brain drain; Indian diaspora;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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