The Migration of Professionals from Africa: Assessing the Impact of the “Brain Drain” from the Continent

Abstract

According to the United Nations, an estimated over 214 million people reside outside the country of their birth. The international migration of people, in particular those moving from developing countries to developed ones, has become an important and critical aspect of the global economic order. With the rapid population growth in developing countries and controlled growth in developed countries, international migration is likely to play a prominent role in the global economy (Beine et al., 2009). There is ample literature on diaspora externalities and international migration, which shows that there is a rise in the migration of highly qualified professionals, also known as “brain drain” or “globalization of human capital.” According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), brain drain statistics for the world’s 48 least developed countries (LDCs)1 are quite stark. For example, about one in five universitylevel educated professionals leave for employment elsewhere, and the brain drain rate is estimated at a high of 18.4 percent for LDCs (UNCTAD, 2012).