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How Big is the Brain Drain?
Open accessAbstract
The brain drain from developing countries has been lamented for many years, but knowledge of the empirical magnitude of the phenomenon is scant owing to the lack of systematic data sources. This paper presents estimates of emigration rates from 61 developing countries to OECD countries for three educational categories constructed using 1990 U.S. Census data, Barro and Lee’s data set on educational attainment, and OECD migration data. Although still tentative in many respects, these estimates reveal a substantial brain drain from the Caribbean, Central America, and some African and Asian countries.
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The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Migration is not a simple process; it is underpinned by many push and pull factors that the potential migrant may not be able to control.”
From Brain drain in South Africa is affecting health care (2024) · cites this paper as [3]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Brain drain and the loss of skilled professionals are a major reason for the unsteady growth of the South African economy.”
From Brain drain in South Africa is affecting health care (2024) · cites this paper as [3]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe check wasn’t confident either way, so it gives no verdict — never disputed.
In the citing paper
“A report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development stated that there were more than 23 400 health professionals from South Africa residing and working in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the United States and Australia.2,3,4”
From Brain drain in South Africa is affecting health care (2024) · cites this paper as [3]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe check wasn’t confident either way, so it gives no verdict — never disputed.
In the citing paper
“The government lacks a clear-cut policy on how to reduce brain drain”
From Brain drain in South Africa is affecting health care (2024) · cites this paper as [3]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
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Citations
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References 15 · Cited by 130
Metadata
- Authors
- Carrington, W., & Detragiache, E.
- Affiliations
- Charles River Associates (US)
- Corresponding author
- Detragiache, Enrica
- Venue
- IMF Working Papers
- Publisher
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Published
- 1998-07
- Volume
- 1998
- Issue
- 102
- Pages
- 1
- ISSN
- 1018-5941 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2955307825
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 1.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- IMF Working Paper (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Labor Dynamics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Global Health Workforce Issues
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic Growth and Productivity
- Keywords
- brain drain, emigration rates, skilled migration, educational attainment, developing countries, OECD countries, international migration, Caribbean, Central America, Africa, Asia
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- CoChat. (2026). Citation check: How Big is the Brain Drain? https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.5089/9781451948424.001
- The paper
- Carrington, W., & Detragiache, E. (1998). How Big is the Brain Drain? IMF Working Papers. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451948424.001
