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Aid for health, economic growth, and the emigration of medical workers

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  • Lanati, Mauro
  • Thiele, Rainer

Abstract

Debates on the extent to which developing countries suffer from a brain drain often focus on the emigration of locally scarce health personnel. In this paper, we empirically examine how two potential determinants—aid for health and local income levels—affect the emigration rates of doctors and nurses from developing countries. Employing a standard gravity model of international migration, we show that aid for health has a negative effect on the emigration of both nurses and doctors. Our findings suggest that donors influence the emigration decisions of doctors and nurses through improvements in health infrastructure. Higher income per capita is also associated with lower emigration from developing countries for doctors and nurses alike. Given that nurses typically belong to the poorer segments of populations in the countries of origin, we can conclude that even at low initial income levels, on balance, economic growth provides an incentive to stay.

Suggested Citation

  • Lanati, Mauro & Thiele, Rainer, 2021. "Aid for health, economic growth, and the emigration of medical workers," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 301068, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifwkie:301068
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.3568
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301068/1/J%20of%20Intl%20Development%20-%202021%20-%20Lanati%20-%20Aid%20for%20health%20%20economic%20growth%20%20and%20the%20emigration%20of%20medical%20workers.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Botezat, Alina & Incaltarau, Cristian & Nijkamp, Peter, 2024. "Nurse migration: Long-run determinants and dynamics of flows in response to health and economic shocks," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    2. Fuchs, Andreas & Gröger, André & Heidland, Tobias & Wellner, Lukas, 2023. "The effect of foreign aid on migration: Global micro evidence from world bank projects," Kiel Working Papers 2257, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    3. Lars Engberg‐Pedersen & Ida Marie Savio Vammen & Hans Lucht, 2024. "Can European foreign aid motivate people to stay in Africa? The root causes policy debate and irregular migration," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 42(3), May.
    4. Restelli, Gabriele, 2025. "Does aid to migrants in “transit countries” affect their movement intentions? Evidence from Libya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Dreher, Axel & Lang, Valentin & Reinsberg, Bernhard, 2024. "Aid effectiveness and donor motives," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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