Niya+Kabir

Niya Kabir Michael Jones CCT205 February 5th, 2009

Brain Drain
Education and economy are two levels of society that are interconnected. Each is dependent on the other. The educational system is what produces the skilled workers of society who become an integral part in creating a strong economy. This strong economy then allows for the further growth of the country. The growth of the country will, in turn, further the development of the educational system, and skilled workers. However, when there is a lack of education within a population, the income in the developing country decreases (Carrington & Detragiache 1). Unfortunately, such a situation drives the educated or skilled people to leave the country because of the lack of opportunities available. This occurrence is referred to as the //brain drain//.

Brain drain is a global issue. “There is a flow from the less advanced countries, which are at pains to produce and retain their highly qualified personnel, towards intermediate income countries” (“The “brain drain”: new aspects” 1). It is evident that the loss of educated and skilled works from developing countries is affecting the ability of certain countries to develop. According to the report by the UN, the least developed countries of the world are losing workers from the already small number of professionals within the country (Balakrishnan, 1). This is resulting in the country’s inability to recover from poverty (Balakrishnan, 1). In other words, the level of education within a country is a determinant factor of the ability of the country to succeed economically.
 * __Brain Drain: What is it?__**

The individuals and groups who are affected by the brain drain generally are the developed and developing countries in question. This encompasses the government and citizens of the each respective country. More specifically, the developed countries often referred to in this context are those from the West: America and Europe. In the case of developing countries, they are the ones greatly withdrawn due to brain drain. It is these countries that are losing out on their professional workers to the West because of the lack of opportunities at home (Balakrishnan, 1). Nevertheless, it is the ‘target countries’ such as the U.S. and the U.K. that have also encouraged immigration by preparing their employment policies to allow for more workers in anticipation of fixing labour shortages (Balakrishnan, 1). Unlike the developed countries who benefit from the brain drain phenomenon, it is believed that developing countries have suffered a lot more long-term damage. The value of qualified individuals is greater within the developing country – the source country (“The “brain drain”: new aspects” 1). These middle class individuals who leave their respective countries produce a loss opportunity for vibrant leaders of tomorrow (Easterly & Nyarko 19). Professional workers within a source country allow that country to sustain itself. Even a small loss of skills for such countries makes a crucial impact (“The “brain drain”: new aspects” 1). Regardless of the size of the loss, it eventually accumulates. Although the departure of qualified workers is not causal it infers the need for more support from developed countries. Therefore, the means of becoming a wealthy nation and an international contender is based on how well knowledge is established in a country (“The “brain drain”: new aspects” 1). Additionally, the greatest drawback of brain drain to a developing country is hindering prosperity due to the absence of knowledge. Another consequence of the brain drain phenomenon is that countries have been forced to spend money to hire professionals from abroad to make up for the loss of their own citizens (“Brain Drain” 1). This, in turn, causes possible income that could have been circulated within the country to leave and become revenue for other countries. For instance, Africa “spends an estimated 4 billion dollars annually” to pay for external professionals (“Brain Drain” 1). Furthermore, the migration of skilled workers produces a net financial loss, and therefore, those workers do not contribute to the developing country’s base income tax (“Brain Drain” 1). In addition, it promotes the reduced need for unskilled labour, as a result of decreasing demands for goods and services that would have been requested by the skilled workers (“Brain Drain” 1). The lack of specialized workers results in the break down of the infrastructure of the developing country. This will regrettably leave no knowledge to be passed on to future generations (“Brain Drain” 1). Consequently, future generations no longer have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of their peers before them. Another group of stakeholders that are often forgotten are those who are interested in the issue itself. They are the part of the public that are not directly affect but are shaped and involved because they care and have concerns.
 * __Who are the stakeholders and how are they being affected?__**

Ethiopia is a country located on the sub-Saharan part of Africa. It has faced both environmental and political setbacks (Getahum 258). “The per capita income is approximately $110.00 in 2000” (Getahum 258). In regards to education, the percentage of individuals enrolled in school at each level is the lowest in the world (Getahum 258). However, even with all the problems in Ethiopia, the country still ‘provides’ the West and other parts of the developed world with educated professionals (Getahum 258). In other words, Ethiopia is an ideal example of a source country. This is a country in economic distress, where the government is finding it difficult to circulate money to both the education and medical sectors. This, unfortunately, is preventing Ethiopia from recovering from a long history of debt. Unlike Ethiopia, the United States is the super power of the world and is a leading competitor in the international markets. Ideally, the U.S. is a target country, where individuals migrate to have better opportunities at success. However, this is not the origin of migration from Ethiopia to the West, but rather an evolutionary change. The origin of migration to the West was initiated due to political doubts: the deaths of 63 former government officers and later the ‘red’ and ‘white’ terror (Getahum 261). These acts were converted by the military rule and its supporters, such as the All Ethiopian People Socialist Movement (Getahum 261). During this time, the U.S. was changing its immigration policy, which started to include requirements for refugee resettlement (Getahum 261). This further encouraged the concerned Ethiopian to migrate. As time passed, the reason and means of migration changed. It seemed that the bases of the people’s decision were network driven (Getahum 262). Meanwhile, the U.S. encouraged more immigration by having the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, which provided Ethiopians a greater opportunity (Getahum 262). However, there was a requirement that all those who wished to enter must have completed high school (Getahum 262). This ensured that those who enter the country were of enough skill to improve. In other words, the brain drain in Ethiopia had started during a critical period in Ethiopia’s development. At that time, Ethiopians saw the benefits of a stable and leveled economy within the U.S as an opportunity to further their career. The relationship between the two countries demonstrates the basic principle behind the brain drain theory. The extent of brain drain that is within Ethiopia can be simply introduced by the relation between doctors and people. An article written by the Guardian.uk called //Brain drain still hurting world’s poorest countries// stated that for “every hundred thousand people only two doctors are available” (Balakrishnan, 1). This is often because many physicians leave to the West for better job opportunities. Ethiopia, like many other developing countries, is losing the human resources it cannot afford to lose: educated and service oriented workers.(“Brain Drain” 1). Furthermore, due to the loss of general doctors in Ethiopia, educational facilities revolving around medical studies have been reduced. For instance, “Ethiopia’s Godar Medical Science College was forced to close 5 departments because of the exodus of medical personnel abroad” (“Brain Drain” 1). As the receiver of these skilled workers the U.S. is provided with individuals who are able labourers. However, it does cause the possibility of future competition between the citizens of the home state and those of the immigrants from abroad. This case study on brain drain exemplifies the history of the source country, the ways in which to the target country beautifies themselves, and the result of the loss of their valued workers.
 * __[[image:braindrain.gif align="left" caption="http://snhs.georgetown.edu/gujhs/vol3no1/images/braindrain.gif"]]Case Study: Ethiopia versus U.S.__**

Although there are a number of countries that suffer from brain drain, there are certain individuals who claim that the effects of the loss of skilled workers are in fact not as severe as believed. Some of these individuals are those who work closely with developing countries. For instance, Katie Mantell, a writer for a non-for profit organization who dedicated her time to help developing countries obtain accurate and reliable information, has argued that there may be an exaggeration on how extreme the brain drain issue is. Her analysis is that although there is evidence that a large group of highly skilled workers leave their respective countries to work in places with better opportunities, they do eventually return (Mantell, 1). She bases this on a study that was conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) where it was concluded that these skilled workers do, with time, return to their countries (Mantell, 1). On the other hand, there are those who state that this ‘migration’ of well-educated individuals can in the future help developing countries. For instance, Dominique Guellec of the OECD’s Analysis and Statistics Division states that the movement of different skilled workers around the world is beneficial (Mantell, 1). According to Dominique, because there are no opportunities in the skilled workers’ place of origin, these individuals would remain unemployed if they do not head abroad (Mantell, 1). By implying that there is no alternative work for the educated workers in their country, leaving and making money elsewhere would still provide for the basic needs of those left behind. Furthermore, there are those such as Lea Velho, a researcher at the Institute of New Technology (INTECH), who states that due to the interconnected world we live in, having association of people in various locations can allow for the improvement of technology (Mantell, 1). In other words, the dynamic issue of brain drain and the extent of its effect of developing worlds depend on the view point of those within the issue.
 * __Counter Thoughts: Brain Drain Exaggeration?__**

__**Overall**__ Scholars can argue that there are both benefits and drawbacks to the brain drain issue. However, what is evident is that both parties involved (i.e. developing and developed countries) are being changed on two main levels – economically and educationally. These fundamental aspects of society within each country are what allow for sustainable living. The lack of development of either has the potential to reshape the other. It is through this issue that a web of interconnecting domains have formed and resulted to create a spectrum illustrating the gains and loss of countries throughout the world.

Work Cited Balakrishnan, Angela. “Brain drain still hurting world’s poorest countries.” __Guardian.co.uk__. January 22nd,2009. July 19th 2007 . “Brain Drain”. __FAIR: Federation for American Immigration Reform__. January 21st, 2009. October 2002 . Carrington, William J., and Detragiache, Enrica. “How Extensive Is the Brain Drain?”. __Finance & Development: A quarterly magazine of the IMF__. June 1999. January 21st, 2009 . Eassterly, William and Nyarko, Ya. “Is the Brain Drain Good for Africa?”. January 22nd,2009. November 29, 2005. . Getahun, Solomon A. “Brain Drain and its Impact on Ethiopia’s Higher Learning Institutions: Medical Establishments and the Military Academies between 1970s and 2000.” __Perspectives on Global Development and Technology__. 5.3. (2006)  Mantell, Katie. “Brain drain fears ‘may be exaggerated’”. __SciDevNet.__ January 11, 2002. January 21st,2009 < http://www.scidev.net/en/news/brain-drain-fears-may-be-exaggerated.html >. “The “brain drain”: new aspects of the South/North exodus”. January 22nd, 2009. July-August 2007 . image:"The Global Effects of the Brain Drain on Health Care Systems." January 24th,2009. . image:__A load of Crap from an idle Brain__.January 24th,2009. .