Reading Comprehension : Reassessing the impacts of Brain Drain on Developing Countries

Brain drain, which is the action of having highly skilled and educated people leaving their country to work abroad, has become one of the developing countries concerns. Brain drain is also referred to as human capital flight. More and more third world science and technology educated people are heading for more prosperous countries seeking higher wages and better working conditions. This has of course serious consequences on the sending countries.

• abroad: in or to a foreign country.
• prosperous: rich and successful.
• wages: money you earn that is paid according to the number of hours, days or weeks that you work.
•  consequences: something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions.

While many people believe that immigration is a personal choice that must be understood and respected, others look at the phenomenon from a different perspective. What makes those educated people leave their countries should be seriously considered and a distinction between push and pull factors must be made. The push factors include low wages and lack of satisfactory working and living conditions. Social unrest, political conflicts and wars may also be determining causes. The pull factors, however, include intellectual freedom and substantial funds for research.

•  perspective: a way of thinking about something [viewpoint].
• distinction: a clear difference or separation between two similar things.
• unrest: a political situation in which people protest and behave violently.
• intellectual: relating to the ability to understand things and think intelligently.
• substantial: large in a amount or number.

Brain drain has negative impact on the sending countries economic prospects and competitiveness. It reduces the number of dynamic and creative people who can contribute to the development of their country. Likewise, with more entrepreneurs taking their investments abroad, developing countries are missing an opportunity of wealth creation. This has also negative consequences on tax revenue and employment.

•  Prospects: the possibility that something happen.
• Contribute: to give ideas, money, etc... to something that a lot of other people also are involve in.
• Likewise: in the same way.

Most of the measures taken so far have not had any success in alleviating the effects of brain drain. A more global view must take into consideration the provision of adequate working and living conditions in the sending countries. An other option should involve encouraging the expatriates to contribute their skill to the development of their countries without necessarily physically relocating.

• alleviating: to make something less painful or difficult to deal with.
• provision: the action of providing or supplying something for use.
• adequate: enough in quantity or of a good enough quality for a particular purpose.
• expatriates: in a foreign country.