Apr 14, 2015 discussions of africas brain drain have focused on the health sector, and in particular, doctors. This paper attempts to answer this very question through examination of what is meant by brain drain, followed by analyzing the hard facts, significance and consequences for the continent. An economic perspective on malawis medical brain drain. Implications for sustainablen development in zimbabwe. Although the precise dimensions and impacts of this brain drain have yet to be determined, the zimbabwean government. The brain drain phenomenon can only be overcome if africa builds a research infrastructure that enables.
Migration and brain drain find, read and cite all the. All the signs point to the existence of a growing exodus of skilled zimbabweans from the country. The second is a migration of skilled workers from central and southeastern europe into western europe, within the eu. In the african context, the notion of brain drain is used to cap ture the dilemma facing. The medical brain drain has been described as rich countries looting doctors and nurses from developing countries undermining their health systems and public health. Brain drain helps the individual more than the society. Aug 01, 2005 these days, there is a far more significant sucking sound, one that concerns the whole world and one that could impede collective efforts to make poverty history. Brain drain is also simply described as human capital flight.
Health care industry health, general government brain drain health aspects medical personnel physiological aspects workers. Skills profile of the qualified african diaspora the skills profile of the qualified african diaspora interviewed illustrates highly developed skills and capacities in science and technology. Before all this, the health sector of zimbabwe was considered as one of the best in the african continent. This format was designed to ensure that the study got to the bottom of the cause and effect of brain drain in zimbabwe. Brain drain or human capital flight is a large emigration of individuals with technical skills or knowledge, normally due to conflict, lack of opportunity, political instability, or health risks. The nature, extent and impact of the brain drain in zimbabwe. Zimbabwes health sector has been badly affected by the brain drain, with. The advantages of brain drain are usually advantages of an individual.
It has particularly adverse consequences on capacity development and economic growth of developing countries. Gwinji said that the decision to enrol more students for nursing training was necessitated by. A 2011 study from the british medical journal calculated the cost of. Mar 31, 2008 3 brain drain has a positive effect on skill accumulation that appears to offset one for one the loss of skills to the brain drain. Section 4 discusses a few relevant issues that, in our opinion, deserve the attention of scientific research. Analysis and assessment of the brain drain phenomenon. Journal of sustainable development in africa volume 14, no.
In part this is because of the relatively large percentages of skilled africans going abroad. Chigamas anthology examines effects of brain drain in zim. However this brain drain might also be seen as a success in the training and export of health professionals and the benefits this provides. The concept of brain drain was first used by the british royal society to describe a. This format was designed to ensure that the study got to the bottom of the cause and effect of brain drain in. Reassessing the impacts of brain drain on developing countries. The zimbabwe national association of social workers estimates that 1,500 of the countrys 3,000 trained social workers left for the united kingdom over the past 10 years. Contrary to a lot of the worries expressed in the media and in aid agencies, the brain drain is. April 2008 abstract we build upon recent literature to do several exercises to assess benefits and costs of the brain drain to africa. The brain drain from developing countries a brain drain can also have benefits for home countries. Benhura and magejo studied about 10 000 documented zimbabwean citizens, living in south africa in 2001 and found that mainly primeaged workers came to south africa in search. Nigeria, egypt, morocco and zimbabwe have also been affected. Impact of brain drain on the quality of education in moi.
The brain drain will continue to give rise to poor leadership and corruption in nigeria, unless nigerians in the african diaspora especially in my generation decide to lend a helping hand to our beloved country. Chikanda 2004 used the 2002 findings to assess the impact of the migration of skilled health workers on zimbabwe s health sector and to make some policy recommendations. Ipinyomi, university of ilorin, nigeria by brain drain we are referring to an international transfer of resources in the form of human capital that is not recorded in any official balance of payments statistics. Apr 29, 2010 health and education sectors have been the hardest hit by the brain drain, which has paralysed schools and hospitals. The brain drain in africa yaw nyarko introduction increased attention has recently been paid to the phenomenon of the brain drain of skilled and often unskilled africans from their home countries to countries in the west. Alongside positive feedback effects from remittances, circular migration, and the participation of highskilled migrants in business networks, innovation, and transfers of. We first assess the magnitude, intensity and determinants of the brain drain, showing that brain drain or highskill migration is becoming. Zimbabwe suffered a substantial brain drain between 1995 and 2008 and we decided to look at the reasons why skilled workers were leaving the country, says magejo. Contrary to a lot of the worries expressed in the media and in.
This article examines the migration of health professionals from zimbabwe in. Brain drain of health professionals in zimbabwe brain drain is described in the work of lowell and findlay 2001 as something that can occur. This paper illustrates the arguments and possible policy options by focusing on. What are the advantages and disadvantages of brain drain. Swot analysis of the zimbabwean brain drain problem. These days, there is a far more significant sucking sound, one that concerns the whole world and one that could impede collective efforts to make poverty history. Invest in the rebuilding of universities and research centres in africa. We first assess the magnitude, intensity and determinants of the brain drain, showing that. Brain drain in zimbabwe with one of the highest levels of literacy in africa, zimbabwe is well placed to develop brains that ca n be drained.
Brain drain is usually regarded as an economic cost, since emigrants usually take with them the fraction of value of their training sponsored by the. In section 3 we describe existing evidence on the impact of brain drain on source countries. The zimbabwe teachers association, which has been involved in a bruising battle with the unity government over poor remuneration, said only 7,000 teachers had returned to classes following the formation of the unity government. The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with an indepth analysis of the brain drain phenomenon and its implications for caribbean countries. That new sucking sound is being made by highly skilled people leaving developing countries and heading to the developed world. Dec 18, 2006 the medical brain drain has been described as rich countries looting doctors and nurses from developing countries undermining their health systems and public health.
Understanding the braindrain in the african diaspora. Effect of brain drain to africa this twentyfirst century. The brain drain academic and skilled migration to the uk. Impact assessment on health service delivery and examination of policy responses. Although the estimates reported in the study are on the lower side than expected, they have significantly improved our knowledge of the trends and the reasons behind the brain drain in zimbabwe. The brain drain of professionals has now become a major concern in developing countries, especially in zimbabwe, in particular. An analysis of the cause and effect of the brain drain in. The brain drain in zimbabwe is based on the global phenomenon associated with mans quest for better opportunities in life. Hence it is not surprising that we fail to identify any. Although the precise dimensions and impacts of this brain drain have yet to be determined, the zimbabwean government has recently sought to stem the tide with various policy measures. Retention incentives for health workers in zimbabwe. This approach enabled both nationwide and international coverage and thus ensuring comprehensive representation of the picture regarding the full scope of zimbabwes brain drain.
Brain drain is defined as the migration of skilled human resources in search of the better standard of living and quality of life, attractive salaries, worldclass education, opportunities for career advancement, access to advanced technology and more stable political conditions in different places worldwide sunita dodani and ronald e laporte, 2005. The impacts of the brain drain phenomenon include its adverse effects on a countrys prospects for technological advancement, its numbing effects on politics and governance in the emigrants home country, and its ghastly effects on the provision healthcare. Abstract the brain drain of professionals has now become a major concern in developing countries, especially in zimbabwe, in particular. Specific policy measures to effectively address the brain drain incidence in. Drain with a specific emphasis on developing countries in africa and on academic labour in the uk. While the brain drain has long been viewed as detrimental to poor countrys growth. The phenomenon refers to the departure of highly skilled individuals from organizations, industries, and. This research followed a case study research design rooted in qualitative research approach. A 2011 study from the british medical journal calculated the cost of human capital in economic. Basically, african countries are funding the education of their nationals only to see them end up.
Since zimbabwes independence from great britain in 1980, the country has been tightly controlled by president robert mugabe and the ruling zimbabwe african national unionpatriotic front zanupf, which is known for severe repression and continuing violations of human rights. The brain drain i am referring to is the idea that there is currently a significant increase in the migration of highly skilled and higher educated caribbean natives to more developed. It focuses on solutions that have been proposed and implemented in the past and then propose a more promising solution. The causes and impact of the brain drain in institutions of higher. In part this is because of the relatively large percentages of. Medical brain drain has become one of the contributing factors leading to the continuous deterioration of the health sector of zimbabwe. Health and education sectors have been the hardest hit by the brain drain, which has paralysed schools and hospitals. The overall objective of the study was to profile the skills of zimbabwean health workers in the diaspora with the aim of assessing the extent and nature of health.
William easterly and yaw nyarko new york university july 2007 rev. From brain drain to brain gain scholarlycommons university of. Addressing human capital needs for post crisis zimbabwe s capacity building abstract the concept of brain drain has been debated for decades and is a worldwide phenomenon. Alongside positive feedback effects from remittances, circular migration, and the participation of highskilled migrants in business networks, innovation, and transfers of technology, consider the effect of figure 2. There are those who complete their education in africa and then migrate for a variety of reasons. Pdf on mar 1, 2012, pieter janse van vuuren and others published zimbabwe.
An analysis of the cause and effect of the brain drain in zimbabwe. Jan 26, 2016 zimbabwe suffered a substantial brain drain between 1995 and 2008 and we decided to look at the reasons why skilled workers were leaving the country, says magejo. A study by canadian scientists found that south africa and zimbabwe suffer the worst economic losses due to. Nevertheless, there is general agreement on the trend lines. Its ongoing increase has evoked widespread calls for policy responses. African brain drain and its impact on source countries. It appears that the brain drain or the human capital flight from countries in the region continue to rise. The first is an outflow of highly qualified scientists from western europe mostly to the united states. Commentary, report by canadian journal of public health.
The term brain drain designates the international transfer of human resources and mainly applies to the migration of relatively highly educated individuals from developing to developed countries. The number of highest brain drain is coming from haiti which has lost 80% of educated and skilled workers. Discussions of africas brain drain have focused on the health sector, and in particular, doctors. Introduction the purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with an indepth analysis of the brain drain phenomenon and its implications for caribbean countries. Brain drain has reached alarming proportions in african countries, with ethiopia ranking first in the continent in terms of rate of loss of human capital. The main objectives were to find out the attitudes of teachers and students towards the remediation exercise in. Analysis and assessment of the brain drain phenomenon and. Iom zimbabwe migration papers n1 the impact of the brain drain. Section 4 discusses a few relevant issues that, in our opinion, deserve the attention of. Human capital flight in europe fits into two distinct trends.
Statistics on subsaharan africas brain drain and migration are often confusing and contradictory. According to the cambridge dictionary 20 brain drain is defined as the situation in which large numbers of educated and very skilled people leave their own country to live and work in another where pay and conditions are better. Addressing human capital needs for post crisis zimbabwes capacity building abstract the concept of brain drain has been debated for decades and is a worldwide phenomenon. Takupiwa mukayi nyanga zimbabwe from econ 360 at nova. Zimbabwe loses 45,000 teachers to brain drain david coltart. In africa, moving from a brain drain to a brain gain. However this braindrain might also be seen as a success in the training and export of health professionals and the benefits this provides. In 1997 only, more than 1,000 professionals left zimbabwe. If the zimbabwe government does not do something to make staying at home more attractive and rewarding, the brain drain will continue unabated.
1273 1343 363 1150 533 627 372 645 1180 312 99 471 398 47 1303 266 129 1259 465 438 58 1393 451 308 50 359 889 1123 891 124 94 633