Global mobility of talent from a perspective of new industrial policy: open migration chains and diaspora networks

A positive view on the brain drain issue in developing countries

By: Kuznetsov, Y & Sabel, C
Published by: World Bank, 2006
Via: Eldis

All the very valid concern about brain drain from developing countries not-withstanding, this paper argues for and demonstrates the possibility of win-win positive dynamics benefiting both sending countries and migrants themselves.

At the same time, the authors argue that the ‘win-win’ dynamics are not automatic. It is a gradual step-by-step process which requires ingenuity and creativity to trigger. To stress the possibility of such virtuous dynamics, they introduce two key notions: open migration chains and Diaspora networks (or expatriate networks).

Open migration chains are sequences of educational or job opportunities which allow a migrant to move to progressively complex educational and job tasks necessary to work in the global environment. Diaspora networks are the locus of concerted action by expatriates to promote their collective interests or to help them engage in their home countries.

(http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/201210/Search_Networks_final1.pdf)