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Brain Drain or Brain Dilution Tax: A Sending Country’s Perspective

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  • Leonid V. Azarnert

Abstract

I investigate how taxing immigrants and redistributing the collected funds as educational subsidies influence human capital accumulation and growth in the source economy. The analysis is performed in a two-country growth model with endogenous fertility, in which public knowledge spillovers from the more advanced destination economy amplify the productivity of investment in children’s education in the sending country. I demonstrate that, while in the short run, the source economy accumulates more human capital if the subsidies are provided domestically, if the spillover effect is strong enough, in the long run, it can accumulate more human capital if education is subsidized in the destination country.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonid V. Azarnert, 2025. "Brain Drain or Brain Dilution Tax: A Sending Country’s Perspective," CESifo Working Paper Series 12053, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12053
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • 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
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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