University of Michigan

Brain drain or brain gain? New evidence points to benefits of skilled migration

High-skilled professionals from small or lower-income countries often emigrate in search of greater opportunities. For countries of origin, this population outflow can prompt concern over the loss of human capital– an effect that is colloquially known as “brain drain.” But a new review published in Science reveals evidence that high-skilled migration opportunities can also lead to “brain gain,” increasing, rather than decreasing, a country’s overall stock of educated workers. ...