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The ties that bind and transform: knowledge remittances, relatedness and the direction of technical change
[Brain drain or brain bank? The impact of skilled emigration on poor-country innovation]

Author

Listed:
  • Valentina Di Iasio
  • Ernest Miguelez

Abstract

This study investigates whether high-skilled migration in a sample of OECD countries fosters technological diversification in the migrants’ countries of origin. We focus on migrant inventors and study their role as vectors of knowledge remittances. Further, we particularly analyze whether migrants spark related or unrelated diversification back home. To account for the uneven distribution of knowledge and migrants within the host countries, we break down the analysis at the metropolitan area level. Our results suggest that migrant inventors have a positive effect on the home countries’ technological diversification, particularly for developing countries and technologies with less related activities around—thus fostering unrelated diversification.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentina Di Iasio & Ernest Miguelez, 2022. "The ties that bind and transform: knowledge remittances, relatedness and the direction of technical change [Brain drain or brain bank? The impact of skilled emigration on poor-country innovation]," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 423-448.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jecgeo:v:22:y:2022:i:2:p:423-448.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeg/lbab044
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    Cited by:

    1. Corrocher, Nicoletta & Grabner, Simone Maria & Morrison, Andrea, 2024. "Green technological diversification: The role of international linkages in leaders, followers and catching-up countries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(4).
    2. Ernest Miguelez & Andrea Morrison, 2023. "Migrant inventors as agents of technological change," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 669-692, April.
    3. Awate, Snehal & Mudambi, Ram & Scalera, Vittoria G. & Schotter, Andreas P.J., 2025. "Global connectivity in a world of disruptions," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).
    4. Andrea Morrison, 2023. "Towards an evolutionary economic geography research agenda to study migration and innovation," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 16(3), pages 529-542.
    5. Huan, Songhua, 2025. "Identifying complex relationship in sub-fields between digital economy and urban agglomeration water pollution in Yangtze River Economic Belt: Evidence from original large-scale social media text analysis," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 200(P2).
    6. Benjamin Cornejo Costas & Nicola Cortinovis & Andrea Morrison, 2025. "How external linkages and informal institutions enable green innovation in EU regions," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2503, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Feb 2025.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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