Brain Drain

This  course of the learning series "Migrants, Refugees, and Societies" aims to: (i) provide a clear diagnostic of what “brain drain” refers to, (ii) provide a comprehensive overview of the latest economics research on high-skill emigration, (iii) examine what the empirical evidence says on its drivers and impacts, and (iv) look into the policies governments can use to ensure a triple-win situation for skilled migrants, host, and destination countries. 

  • Training typology

    Onsite

  • Certificate

    Free of charge

What's included?

  • Hands-on sessions
  • Text materials
  • Certification
  • Peer to peer discussions

Learning Objectives

  • Have good knowledge of what brain drain refers to and how it is measured in international statistics.
  • Be familiar with the empirical evidence on the consequences of high-skill emigration for origin countries.
  • Understand the multiple drivers of high-skill emigration and how brain drain and the economic development of origin countries are two interdependent processes.
  • Be well-informed of the most promising policy options to mitigate the adverse effects of brain drain and the mechanisms available to better share benefits between host and origin countries.

Who we are looking for

Journalists covering migration and forced displacement issues; mid-level to senior officials and policymakers in government agencies; development practitioners in international and regional organizations working on migration and forced displacement; NGO workers; researchers and thought leaders from think tanks; and master's and PhD students.

Meet our core team

Quy-Toan Do
Lead Economist with the World Bank's Development Research Group
Pascal Jaupart 
Economist in the Latin America and Caribbean unit of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank