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The brain drain from developing countries

Author

Listed:
  • Frèdèric Doquier

    (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research)

  • Catia Batista

    (Nova School of Business and Economics)

Abstract

Brain drain refers to the selective emigration of highly educated people, who often have stronger incentives to migrate and face fewer barriers. At first glance, this seems to be an adverse situation: losing doctors, engineers or teachers could hinder development. However, migration can also be beneficial by spurring investment in skills, fueling remittances, fostering innovation, business links, and transfers of knowledge and norms. The net impact depends on the skills involved and the context, creating an opportunity for policies that transform emigration into a driver of development.

Suggested Citation

  • Frèdèric Doquier & Catia Batista, 2026. "The brain drain from developing countries," World of Labour, LISER, pages 1-31.2, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2026:n:31.v2
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    2. Sarbajit Chaudhuri & Jayanta Kumar Dwibedi, 2022. "Anti‐immigration policy in developed countries: Welfare and distributional implications for developing economies," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 18(3), pages 358-381, September.
    3. Barlas, Ahmad Walid & Ammar, Abdullah, 2022. "Do Afghan Youth Think of Migrating to other Countries under the Taliban Regime?," MPRA Paper 114106, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Sareh Nazari & Fariba Seyedan, 2016. "A Qualitative Research of the Causes of Iranian Female Students Immigration to Developed Countries," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(10), pages 167-167, October.
    5. Barlas, Ahmad Walid, 2022. "Population Movements in Afghanistan: A Historical Overview, Migration Trends under the Taliban Regime, and Future Outlooks," MPRA Paper 114179, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Jerzy Pieńkowski, 2020. "The Impact of Labour Migration on the Ukrainian Economy," European Economy - Discussion Papers 123, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    7. Björn NILSSON, 2019. "Education and migration: insights for policymakers," Working Paper 23ca9c54-061a-4d60-967c-f, Agence française de développement.
    8. Massimo Anelli & Gaetano Basso & Giuseppe Ippedico & Giovanni Peri, 2019. "Youth Drain, Entrepreneurship and Innovation," NBER Working Papers 26055, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Beniamin Viorel BRANZAS, 2015. "Public Services Impact on Urban Migration Phenomenon in Romania," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 16(3), pages 417-430, July.
    10. Manuela CHETUE Komguep & Luc NDEFFO Nembot, 2021. "Why Do Employment Policies Fail to Reduce Unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa? Looking towards the brain drain," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(2), pages 615-633.
    11. Emad Kazemzadeh & José Alberto Fuinhas & Narges Salehnia & Matheus Koengkan & Masoud Shirazi & Fariba Osmani, 2024. "Factors driving CO2 emissions: the role of energy transition and brain drain," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 1673-1700, January.
    12. Sinoi Elena-Alexandra, 2020. "The Effects of Highly-Educated Immigrants on Innovation in Three Developed European Countries," Journal of Social and Economic Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 9(1), pages 65-83, August.
    13. Alina Petronela Haller & Rodica Cristina Butnaru & Gina Ionela Butnaru, 2018. "International Migrant Remittances in the Context of Economic and Social Sustainable Development. A Comparative Study of Romania-Bulgaria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-34, April.
    14. Baquié, Sandra & Urpelainen, Johannes & Khanwilkar, Sarika & Galletti, Christopher S. & Velho, Nandini & Mondal, Pinki & Nagendra, Harini & DeFries, Ruth, 2021. "Migration, assets, and forest degradation in a tropical deciduous forest of South Asia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    15. Bonin, Holger & Krause-Pilatus, Annabelle & Rinne, Ulf & Brücker, Herbert, 2020. "Wirtschaftliche Effekte der EU-Arbeitskräftemobilität in den Ziel- und Herkunftsländern," IZA Research Reports 102, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Balu Ramoo, 2018. "Salient Beliefs that Influence the Malaysian Engineers Intention to Migrate Abroad," Border Crossing, Transnational Press London, UK, vol. 8(1), pages 40-63, January-J.
    17. Ejder Ayçin & Esra Erarslan, 2025. "Should I Stay or Should I Go? Mapping the Key Drivers of Skilled Migration Using Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Methodology," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, September.
    18. Milasi Santo, 2020. "What Drives Youth’s Intention to Migrate Abroad? Evidence from International Survey Data," IZA Journal of Development and Migration, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-30, January.
    19. Georgiana Florentina Tataru, 2019. "Migration – an Overview on Terminology, Causes and Effects," Logos Universalitate Mentalitate Educatie Noutate - Sectiunea Drept/ Logos Universality Mentality Education Novelty - Section: Law, Editura Lumen, Department of Economics, vol. 7(2), pages 10-29, December.
    20. Nor Harlina Abd Hamid & Mohammad Bazli Abdullah & Nor Shahrul Nizam Muhamad Nor & Nor Fazalina Salleh, 2025. "Mitigating Brain Drain among Malaysian Millennials: A Practical Framework for Policymakers and Employers," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(8), pages 3764-3769, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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