SKILLED LABOUR MIGRATION FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

This article examines the causes and consequences of the migration of skilled labor from developing to developed countries, a phenomenon often referred to as the "brain drain." It analyzes the key "push" factors that drive skilled professionals, such as doctors, engineers, and scientists, to leave their home countries, including low salaries, poor working conditions, and a lack of professional opportunities. The study also explores the "pull" factors in the developed world, such as higher wages, better research facilities, and selective immigration policies designed to attract top talent. The research then provides a balanced assessment of the consequences of this migration. It details the significant negative consequences for the sending countries, which lose their most educated and productive citizens and the public investment made in their training. However, it also explores the potential positive consequences, such as the flow of remittances, the transfer of knowledge and technology through diaspora networks, and the potential for "brain gain" through return migration. The paper concludes that the migration of skilled labor is a complex phenomenon with both significant costs and potential benefits for the developing world.

The migration of skilled professionals from the Global South to the Global North is one of the most significant and debated aspects of globalization. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of its causes and consequences. The first part of the study is an examination of the drivers of this "brain drain." It moves beyond a simple economic explanation to explore a range of professional and social factors, from the desire for greater academic and professional freedom to the search for a better quality of life and educational opportunities for one's children. The core of the article is a nuanced assessment of the consequences of this outflow. It provides a detailed analysis of the severe negative impact on the public services of many developing countries, particularly in the health sector, which has been decimated by the migration of doctors and nurses. The paper quantifies the massive loss of the public investment that was made in educating these professionals. The second part of the analysis, however, explores the more recent and complex literature on the potential for a "brain gain." It examines how a well-organized and engaged diaspora can be a powerful asset for the home country, serving as a source of investment, a conduit for technology transfer, and a powerful lobby group. It also discusses the potential for "brain circulation," where skilled migrants return home after a period abroad, bringing with them new skills and capital. The findings suggest that the net impact of skilled migration is not predetermined but depends on the policies that both sending and receiving countries put in place to manage it.