Policy Innovations The central address for a fairer globalization

A publication of the Carnegie Council

The Global Migration of Talent: What Does it Mean for Developing Countries?

By Devesh Kapur

Center for Global Development, October 13, 2005

Written by Devesh Kapur and John McHale
Center for Global Development
SUMMARY

Human capital flows from poor countries to rich countries are large and growing. A leading cause is the increasing skill-focus of immigration policy in a number of leading industrialized countries—a trend that is likely to intensify as rich countries age and competitive pressures build in knowledge-intensive sectors. The implications for development are complex and poorly understood.

While fears of the "brain drain" were overwrought in earlier decades, the recent celebration of "brain gain" is also overdone, especially as highly selective migration policies deprive poor countries of scarce innovators and institution builders.

We explore available policy responses to improve the net effect on development without making the international migration system even more illiberal than it is today.

External Link: http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/44...

Read More: Development, Globalization, Migration, Poverty