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FDI, the Brain Drain and Trade: Channels and Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Artjoms Ivlevs

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Jaime de Melo

    (University of Geneva, CERDI and CEPR)

Abstract

This paper explores the links between the patterns of migration (high vs. low-skill), trade policy, and foreign direct investment (FDI) from the standpoint of sending countries. A skeleton general equilibrium model with a non-traded good and sector-specific labour is used to explore the effects of the skill-composition of exports on FDI. The model suggests that if exports are low-skill intensive, emigration of high- skill labour leads to positive FDI, suggesting that migration and FDI are complements. Cross-sectional analysis using FDI and emigration data for 103 migration-sending countries over the period 1990-2000 finds some support for this conjecture.

Suggested Citation

  • Artjoms Ivlevs & Jaime de Melo, 2008. "FDI, the Brain Drain and Trade: Channels and Evidence," Development Working Papers 261, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:csl:devewp:261
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    File URL: https://www.dagliano.unimi.it/media/wp2008_261.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Luca Marchiori & I-Ling Shen & Frédéric Docquier, 2013. "Brain Drain In Globalization: A General Equilibrium Analysis From The Sending Countries' Perspective," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(2), pages 1582-1602, April.
    2. Dmitry Sokolov, 2017. "Intellectual Diaspora as a Resource for Science Development: a Review of Experience in BRICS Countries (Brazil, South Africa and Russia)," Science Governance and Scientometrics Journal, Russian Research Institute of Economics, Politics and Law in Science and Technology (RIEPL), vol. 12(1), pages 25-37, March.
    3. Minh Tam T. Bui, 2019. "International migration and foreign direct investment within Southeast Asia," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 731-755, October.
    4. Di Maria, Corrado & Lazarova, Emiliya A., 2012. "Migration, Human Capital Formation, and Growth: An Empirical Investigation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 938-955.
    5. David Procházka & Cristina Procházková Ilinitchi, 2011. "The Theoretical Relationships among Foreign Direct Investments, Migration and IFRS Adoption," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2011(4), pages 85-100.
    6. Cuadros, Ana & Martín-Montaner, Joan & Paniagua, Jordi, 2019. "Migration and FDI: The role of job skills," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 318-332.
    7. Dominique M. Gross, 2012. "Free Mobility with the EU and Immigration of North American Brains to Switzerland: What Consequences?," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 148(IV), pages 497-530, December.
    8. Bisiriyu Sodiq Olaide & Malik Manzoor Hassan, 2024. "Accounting for the interconnectedness of globalization, growth, and poverty towards achieving sustainable development," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 5655-5681, December.
    9. Cuadros, Ana & Martín-Montaner, Joan & Paniagua, Jordi, 2016. "Homeward bound FDI: Are migrants a bridge over troubled finance?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 454-465.
    10. Ovielt Baltodano L'opez & Roberto Casarin, 2022. "A Dynamic Stochastic Block Model for Multidimensional Networks," Papers 2209.09354, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2025.
    11. Munazah NAZEER* & Uzma TABASSUM** & Shaista ALAM***, 2017. "Banking And Telecommunication Influencing Migration In Major Cities Of Pakistan," Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics, Applied Economics Research Centre, vol. 27(1), pages 101-120.
    12. Schiff, Maurice, 2010. "Small state regional cooperation, south-south and south-north migration, and international trade," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5297, The World Bank.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions

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