How Big is the Brain Drain?

Abstract

The brain drain from developing countries has been lamented for many years, but knowledge of the empirical magnitude of the phenomenon is scant owing to the lack of systematic data sources. This paper presents estimates of emigration rates from 61 developing countries to OECD countries for three educational categories constructed using 1990 U.S. Census data, Barro and Lee's data set on educational attainment, and OECD migration data. Although still tentative in many respects, these estimates reveal a substantial brain drain from the Caribbean, Central America, and some African and Asian countries.

A gravity model of immigration

“…The positive coefficient for source country education levels confirms Carrington and Detragiache (1998) and Docquier and Marfouk (2002), who find that more educated people are more likely immigrate. The coefficient, no doubt, also reflects OECD countries' preference for educated immigrants over uneducated immigrants.…”

The Effect of University Culture and Stakeholders' Perceptions on University-Business Linking Activities

“…This situation promotes the denominated "brain drain" that many of these countries experience, resulting in a discontinuity in research efforts and poor development of a "critical mass" necessary to increase the research potential (Carrington and Detragiache, 1999). Not surprisingly, therefore, it is believed that the technology gap existing between Europe/USA and Latin America is becoming wider rather than diminishing, which in turn produces a serious impediment towards development.…”

Migration selectivity and the evolution of spatial inequality

“…However, if the reference group is the population remaining in the origin countries, it is clear that the typical immigrant is carrying with him or her much more human capital than the typical stayer after controlling for relevant characteristics (e.g., age, ethnic group, etc). Summarizing the data from the US 1990 Census, Carrington and Detragiache (1998) noted that: « The first striking feature of the US migration data is that immigration flows of individuals with no more than a primary education are quite small… Migrants to the United States tend to be better educated than the average person in their home and the proportion of very highly educated people who migrate is particularly high ».…”