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Should individuals migrate before acquiring education or after? A new model of Brain Waste vs. Brain Drain

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  • Brezis Elise S.

    (Department of Economics, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel)

Abstract

Should individuals migrate before acquiring education or after? In order to analyze the optimality of the timing of migration, I develop a model of migration, which combines the two migration decisions into a unique model – the decisions about where to get an education and about where to work. The main reason for having a unified model is that investment in human capital cannot be disjoined from the decision about work. This paper shows that brain drain is usually an optimal solution. But, when we incorporate “brain waste” and “return migration”, then it is optimal to migrate when young.

Suggested Citation

  • Brezis Elise S., 2019. "Should individuals migrate before acquiring education or after? A new model of Brain Waste vs. Brain Drain," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 19(2), pages 1-11, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejmac:v:19:y:2019:i:2:p:11:n:11
    DOI: 10.1515/bejm-2019-0015
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    Cited by:

    1. Sabina Kubiciel-Lodzińska & Jolanta Maj, 2021. "High-Skilled vs. Low-Skilled Migrant Women: the Use of Competencies and Knowledge—Theoretical and Political Implications: an Example of the Elderly Care Sector in Poland," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1551-1571, December.
    2. Akira Shimada, 2022. "On Compatibility Of Study Migrants’ Acceptance Policies And Immigration Policies," Economy & Business Journal, International Scientific Publications, Bulgaria, vol. 16(1), pages 16-29.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    brain drain; brain waste; higher education; migration; psychological costs; quality of education; return migration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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