Return migration, human capital accumulation and the brain drain

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: Dustmann, Christian; Fadlon, Itzhak; Weiss, Yoram
• 署名单位: University of London; University College London; University of London; University College London; Harvard University; Tel Aviv University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2010.04.006
• 发表日期: 2011
• 页码: 58-67
• 关键词: Return migration; human capital accumulation; comparative advantage; Brain drain

摘要

In this paper we present a model that explains migrations as decisions that respond to where human capital can be acquired more efficiently, and where the return to human capital is highest. The basic framework is a dynamic Roy model in which a worker possesses two distinct skills that can be augmented by learning by doing. There are different implicit prices, in different countries and different rates of skill accumulation. Our analysis contributes to the literature on the selection of immigrants and return migrants by offering a richer framework that may help to accommodate selection of emigrants and return migrants that are not immediately compatible with the one-dimensional skill model. Our analysis also has implications for the debate on brain drain and brain gain. In the two skills model presented here, return migration can lead to a mitigation of the brain drain, or even the creation of a brain gain, where those who return bring the home country augmented local skills. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.