Poor countries should try, not only to retain them, but also to involve scientific diaspora! Dear @Hussin, I have had related question three years ago, and I think it is good to bring it here. There are numerous resources and answers.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Scientific_diaspora_Are_You_aware_of_its_power_and_possibilities_of_their_contribution_to_motherland

Another fine resource about brsain drain from poor countries.

Brain drain from developing countries: how can brain drain be converted into wisdom gain?

Article Brain drain from developing countries: How can brain drain b...

Brain drain is not a new phenomenon. Germany, USA, from 2nd ww are key countries using brain drain strategies and they continue to apply it. Today the so-called “poor” counties are in general speaking satellite countries. When people will decide to be independent and not servants then they will find the way to move on in science and other disciplines.

The addressed problem is not a problem of money and power but of independence and democracy.

The majority of the elites in “poor” countries are in control of the nepotism and corruption. Honestly I do not know what a “brain” can do in a corrupted environment of a poor country?? If, he decides to change the status-quo he will find himself isolated and in depression. Therefore, the order is first establish democracy, independence, transparency, and then development. Revolutions are not run by the “brains” but by the “guts”.

The government might try offering good tax breaks to academics who stay in their home countries. The rationale is that the service they provide their country is worth their salary plus the amount saved in taxes.

Great dilemma for poor countries especially those who embarked with International Monitory Fund innovative programs.

In India,

ALTERNATIVE OF BRAIN DRAIN IS

THROWING BRAIN IN DRAIN.

Dear colleagues. Thank you for your inputs. Ljubomir, you have a point here, involving diaspora researchers will enrich the local scientific endeavors but at some point in time they are used as easy track to move away from the country to get better opportunities outside.

Vassilis, you put your finger in the part that hurts the most (a saying), that is unfortunately many poor countries are poorer in democracy rather than resources, however, still both ailing forces (poorness and corruption) are feeding into letting go our best. As for incentives from the government Kirk, it also depends if the government has a strategy in place to combat the loss of its best.

fix the country to work for the greater good of all, particularly those engaged in honest dedicated service. Ensure the fruits of people’s labor can sustain them while in service and put in place structures that can ensure a level of comfort even in retirement.

Talent is the world’s most valuable resource. It’s time for leaders to elevate its strategic importance.

Happy 2018!

Good incentive packages by the government for scholars in their country such as some tax reliefs, funding for research and education as well as capitalizing on patriotism and love for country. These approaches may be resilient in restraining and maintaining talents and genius scholars in less developed and developing countries. Best regards

Dickson

Has opportunity been given for the service of a nation (in all spheres) based on merit? Most developing countries' employment/service decisions are overspread with nepotism and undue bureaucracy, at a very alarming rate. The continuous neglect of merit for the service of humanity will yield a recurrent retarded economic growth. That's the bane of developing societies, however minute it may seem.

How true are your comments and valuable. Actually policy makers need to join communities like RG or other to sense the common sense and the free recommendations offered by so many concerned researchers and faculty members. The war for talent though is a real war among corporations but the reality is that there are so many colleagues who deserve better positions and benefits, especially the female talent.

I believe that poor countries should take a brave decision by unite with rich countries. In the future, some poor countries will disappear and others will be a place for rich countries garbage. So, what future you prefer ?

With economic activity in emerging markets growing at compounded rates of around 40%—as compared with 2% to 5% in the West and Japan—it’s little wonder that many companies are pegging their prospects for growth to Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) and, increasingly, other developing nations. Businesses based all over the globe are feverishly competing for people who, often for the first time in their lives, have numerous options and high expectations. Not even companies with established global experience can coast on past success in meeting their staffing needs.

They could be united under two guiding principles:

---promises made (the combination of brand, opportunity, and purpose) and

--- promises kept (most significantly, employees’ day-to-day experiences within an organization’s culture).

All four factors play a role in all aspects of the talent management process, but each influences recruitment and retention in different ways. (See the exhibit “A Framework for Attracting and Retaining Talent.”) Promises made and kept affect any quest for talent, but the intensity of competition in the fast-growing BRIC and other economies makes strong differentiation urgent. Most companies continue to believe that a big salary and a name brand will suffice to meet their needs, but a local company that creates genuine opportunities and exhibits desirable cultural conditions will often win out over a Western multinational that offers higher pay.

https://hbr.org/2008/11/winning-the-race-for-talent-in-emerging-markets

Великите държави винаги и много последователно си следват политиката относно придобиване на ресурси от всякакъв характер за тяхно благо. Имало го е от много отдавна, ще продължава да го има и за напред.

Translation for Yavor's input as per Google from Bulgarian:

Great countries always and very consistently follow their policy of acquiring resources of any kind for their benefit. It has been a long time since, it will continue to have it for the future.

Thank you Mohannad and Yavor for your inputs. Indeed many countries which have all set policies to seek talent follow strategies continuously and hopefully they compensate their people well.

Thank you Subhash for sharing this model with us, though great models will only serve their purposes if the right public policy is in place to attract, retain and reward talent. As for the private sector, many success stories exist, but surely not enough to sustain actions against brain drain.

I suspect that a lot of talented people in developing countries flee bureaucracy and corruption. Most will also be ambitious people who will get frustrated if it takes years (and potentially bribes) to set up a business, or to get a job as an academic. How much easier to apply for a job overseas.

You are very right Paul. However, many nations are waking up to see that planning for the future will not be fruitful if lost talent is not invited back provided due respect and dignity is conserved. In reality that is a major challenge for the years to come and time is a factor to tell.

In developing countries like India, a large portion of talented students pass out from Govt. sponsored institutions go abroad mainly in the western Europe and North America and settle down there by working for the country they stay. It is like the rich resources of our country in the form of knowledge acquired by those intelligent students wasted in drain. Government spends huge amount of money for their studies and expect them to give it back in the form of service to the nation.

The main cause of brain drain is the education system in the country, especially after the graduation level, centers of excellence are few and sparse. I feel, that the brain drain can be prevented by the following measures:

• Improving the basic structure of the education system
• Providing incentives to meritorious students
• New science policy, setting up R & D centres of excellence and funding
• Reduction of bureaucratic control on educational and research centres
• Ensuring good employment facilities
• Lastly, good working environment

Regards

Thank you Asit. India is a special case in dealing with its best, we are aware of the Indian Silicon Valley model for technological developments. Isn't this a successful story??

The Silicon Valley of India - a nickname of the of Bengaluru (the capital city of the Indian state of Karnataka). The name signifies Bengaluru's status as a hub for information technology companies in India and is a comparative reference to the original Silicon Valley (San Francisco, California, USA).

Yes, it is a successful story with respect to IT in India.

Thanks and regards

Strategic planning in a country may lead to mitigate the brain drain problem. And if such strategy considers Talent, then it will succeed.

Dr. Talal Atrissi,

Strategic planning - good point. Thanks and regards

Agree. Having a strategy for the country in dealing with its best asset, the Talent, is really something unusual. I recall such an effort was practiced by both Iraq and Iran after the bloody war between them. Both countries recalled their best scientists from abroad with extremely excellent wages, benefit packages including ownership of homes and land.

What you are hinting at, Hussin Jose Hejase, may be as much a cultural issue as a financial or educational one. Iraq and Iran paid its returning scientists highly out of national necessity. But if they are not respected culturally in times of peace, then they will not be rewarded adequately, either financially or in social standing, and this will be another factor nudging them to seek employment overseas. It's a truly complex issue.

Hussin ,

I usually answer questions relatively fast but this particular question has given me pause to think of how big and complicated is the issue that you have raised (and so important!) .

While I am in favor of all the proposals given here including the ones in the article provided by Ljubomir I am not very optimistic that they will become realized in key countries that need them. The reason being that in providing "political decisions, funding, infrastructure, technical support, and a scientific community"[1] requires funding for all of this. In doing so the country can have several alternatives:

a) Seek external funding and increase debt (not a good thing)

b) Divert from other services (touchy subject amongst constituents in a democracy)

c) Seek strategic alliances (more or less like debt, but can include intangible assets)

Unless the population is well educated(not in terms of degree but understanding the mission), they will most likely state that the government is wasting money and create a situation that is detrimental to progress (and this does happen a lot).

In seeking help from the diaspora is a great idea but the diaspora must be really engaged for this to work and have a high degree of altruism that is hard to find (a topic by itself and BTW not that they are not out there, again just hard to find).

In summary, you have given me a lot to think about, great post!

[1] Brain drain from developing countries: How can

brain drain be converted into wisdom gain? by Sunita Dodani

and Ronald E LaPorte ( in Ljubomir's post)

The global “war for talent”

In this paper we examine the “global war for talent,” the factors that impact it, and organizations' responses to it. Using a comprehensive search of more than 400 contemporary academic and business press articles, the paper reviews relevant research and reassesses the “talent war.” We posit that the dominant approaches to the “talent war” based on a scarcity state of mind and action, often characterized by a tactical and exclusive top talent or “star” focus, are being challenged by the emergence of a more evolutionary paradigm. This new paradigm adopts more strategic, innovative, cooperative and generative approaches which we describe as creative ‘talent solutions.’ The paper also highlights implications for future research, teaching and development in the field...

Article The global “war for talent”

Ljubomir ,

Very interesting reading for which I have several comments:

• At the end they try to make the reader move away from the "war" mentality towards a more "operative, generative approach of creative‘ talent solutions.’". their scope was focused on companies and not on countries and I ask if this would hold true for countries. Right now the globalization environment has given way to protectionist views that in effect feed on the "war" mentality.
• The addressing of the knowing–doing gap was an interesting concept which I did not think about. While we focus on "brain drain" it is not the single factor. We must also have doers in an economy and striking the right balance is as critical as stopping the brain drain.
• Focus on diversity in composition is also crucial to increase the potential talent pool

Again, while the paper was focused on companies, some of the core concepts could be applied to nations.

Dear Paul

I am hinting at anything. In the worst of the times when scientists leave their comfort zones (heavens i the west) to go back to their devastated countries, after the war, and continue to live their even till today, then they were respected way enough as compared when these scientists were nobodies amid the biases in the most developed countries!! By the way, I witnessed hundreds of scientists leaving their countries going back and less than 0.5% returned back to the US, UK, or other!!

Excellent answers from Prof Ljubomir, prof Vassilis and prof Kundu.

I am thinking individual responsibility is more important to minimise the intensity of this issue. In the developing countries, Government supports a lot for education. I agree with the opinion that merit may not be recognised, but recognised merit are not interested to work in their motherland, they are moving.......

Ljubomir

Beside the points mentioned by Arturo, I think culture is an important issue as well as the protectionist approach that some governments follow to relieve pressure on National Talent to find adequate jobs with the adequate compensation.

Dr. Hussin - Culture and protectionist approach. These are important points. Thanks

Education & health should be the main agenda for governments in developing countries . High quality primary , secondary & tertiary education should be available to all citizens & adequate funding is essential . Universities should be the engine of research & every talented person should get the opportunity to contribute to science & improve the nation's research capacities . Adequate funding for good quality research should be available . No nation can progress without research of local problems & this can be done by getting the local talent to execute this objective . Unless merit is recognized as necessary for success in research , the above mentioned objectives will not succeed .

I think developing nations can have loans much cheaper than those loans intended for military purposes. With such loans the governments may mitigate the problem of Brain Drain.

My patriot is the one who provides me with a living, respect for my dignity and freedom.

These are the words of the immigrants, with all their psychological and intellectual contradictions with the concept of the homeland and a difficult reality that drives the best minds in our third world to go to all parts of the earth in search of a new homeland and new opportunities and real hopes.

The war for talents? Really? It's the war for profits!

What you say is true about the immigrants, Isam, however the latest years and the turmoil of political moves and anti-terrorist campaigns which does not conserve the dignity anymore, things are changing. Many aspects have to be reviewed and weighted even comparing which is better "less dignity at home or less dignity abroad??".

If this were a topic that I was asked to research, I think my first approach would be to interview a sample of people who had made the decision to move country, and as them why, and what factors swayed them one way or the other. Opportunities to develop skills? More money? Better family prospects? Political or intellectual freedom? Running away from corruption? I'd expect to get quite a different set of answers from people from different countries. Only then might we know which interventions might work in each case.

Dear Paul

You are 100% correct. Maybe I will take your advise and operationalize the question. After all, this is an organic topic that will never stop from happening. Thank you for your constructive criticism all the way.

Irina, since the war for talent involves third party HR headhunters (especially if seeking executives) then there are high stakes to consider, and people make money all through. But this is a different story.

Better country governance helps retain the best.

I agree Talal, since better governance leads to more transparency and higher interest in improving the conditions of the country including job creation and better care for the best talent.

The War For Talent

The war for talent will be won by those companies who rethink from first principles how to treat people

In the twenty years since Steven Hankin at McKinsey coined the term "war for talent", the expression has become a commonplace of management-speak.  Yet still most companies manage their people poorly.  HR is often the poor relation function.  Few employees come to work enthusiastically and most would be receptive to an external job offer...

The war for talent will be won by those companies who rethink from first principles how to treat people.  Young people, in particular, will no longer tolerate feeling undervalued, stifled and bored.  They want to help shape change, and be rewarded accordingly...

http://businessworld.in/article/The-War-For-Talent/05-03-2018-142333/

offer non monetary incentives such as land if they do not have money

The war for talent will be won by those companies who rethink from first principles how to treat people (comment of Dr. Ljubomir Jacić) - This is really important. Regards

It is a big problem worldwide. I think both the countries, the rich and the poor should think about this. Poor countries may prepare a healthy strategy to treat a talented person(s) in a soft manner.

As the global talent supply chain continues to span regional, global and organizational boundaries, HR teams need to embrace new talent practices to stay on top of their game . Bridging current talent gaps in organizations by bringing together globally dispersed workforces to achieve business goals will require no less than a management revolution. And this is just the beginning. Organizations that can capitalize on the power of the new hybrid workforce will position themselves as the new market leaders...

https://www.hrtechnologist.com/articles/mobile-workforce/the-ondemand-economy-part-22-winning-the-war-for-talent/

I like this Ljubomir. Indeed to manage such a hybrid workforce necessitates open mindedness, appreciation of talent, democratic leadership (at least), and the strategic planning to capitalize on unexplored creativity.

Preventing the brain drain

http://www.eiu.com/industry/article/1365863120/preventing-the-brain-drain/2017-09-06

Excellent article Guillermo though a special case where incentives for higher education in health profession in Phillippines versus a contract to stay and work in the country. Possibly this is successful if you have a country policy detailing and stratifying job needs versus professions.

Good case to look for as best practices.

Once upon a time there lived a talented human being; he loved, respected human beings and created a lot of humanistic conceptions, projects and good things; but once they stole even his icons. The talented personality is not afraid of anybody- he just lost his belief in the all- conquering forces of law, justice, and truth.

Impressive Irina and sad at the same time.

The War for Talent is now global. Rich countries are able to attract the best, what should poor countries do to at least retain their best?

Possible measures poor countries can do include:

Dear Dr. Han, your suggestions are well put, however what happens when a country does not plan for its human capital so that there are policies that will motivate and encourage their talents to come back under friendly working conditions.

Brain drain may be somehow said as Brain Gain.

If the people are not getting conducive environment at location for some activity, they move to other locations where opportunities will be available.

The work carried out by them whatever may be location, ultimately percolate down to most of the people. If right environment is not there, anyway people may not be able to produce desirable results.

I think movement of people always happened due to economic reasons.

Dear Mohannad Husain Al-Sherrawi,

Your phrase "I believe that poor countries should take a brave decision by unite with rich countries. In the future, some poor countries will disappear and others will be a place for rich countries garbage. So, what future you prefer ?" surprised me by your defeatist position. So, you offer three options:

1. Poor countries must unite with rich countries

2. In the future, some poor countries will disappear

3. Other poor countries will be a place for rich countries garbage

And you ask "So, what future do you prefer?"

This topic is closely related to the discussions

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_fight_against_the_brain_drain_in_development_countries

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Which_kind_of_help_for_less_economically_developed_countries_is_necessary_to_avoid_the_trap_that_short-term_help_will_be_the_long-term_ruin

I want to note that the notions of poor countries and rich countries are conditional and are related to our understanding in our brains. What I mean? You can be rich and unhappy and you can be poor and happy. For example, the Soviet Union after WW3 was a poor country, but it had full sovereignty and rebuilt its economy four years after the war ended. Today's Russia, after 27 years after the destruction of the Soviet Union, can not reach the level of the country's economy before the collapse of the Soviet Union. What does prevent to do this? Absence of complete sovereignty of the country. In my understanding, all three of your options will destroy the meaning of life for indigenous people in poor countries. And if there is no meaning to life, there is no point in living at all. What should be done is to change the government of their countries in order to obtain full sovereignty. How to change - for example, take the technology of Armenia. If there is complete sovereignty, then all fair laws will be adopted and any corruption will be abolished. For example, in Stalin's time there was no corruption at all, because at that time any corruption have been punishing severely .

I want to share another observation. Russia offered Bulgaria a few years ago to build a gas pipe for gas supplies to Europe. This would be very beneficial for Bulgaria, since it would create thousands of workmanships and earn a good income of several billion dollars a year. However, this treaty was not implemented due to external interference of the United States and Bulgaria rejected this treaty. Russia concluded a new treaty with Turkey and named the "Turkish Stream". Now Bulgaria again asks Russia to restore this treaty as the Bulgarian Stream and the President of Bulgaria and then the Prime Minister arrived to Putin for this purpose. Here's a good example to you.

Summary: When poor countries become completely independent, then there will be no brain drain.

A large number of talented students pass out from Govt. sponsored institutions of India go abroad mainly in the western Europe and North America for higher studies and settle down there by working for the country they stay. This may be called brain drain. But, I feel that the brain drain may be converted to brain gain if proper environment and opportunity is provided to the migrated people (who have earned sufficient knowledge through study or work in abroad) to serve the mother land. Regards

You do have some fine answers here:

https://www.quora.com/How-can-a-developing-country-attract-and-retain-its-talents-studying-or-working-abroad

Pay more to their own

Well put Dr. Gennady. Your argument about situations being relative is a strong argument. And yes, what are called rich countries look to be richer on the account of less richer countries. Internal development of countries is a deterrent to Brain Drain. I think Iran is a good example of a self developed nation amid the stringent embargoes. Very educated Iranians continue to serve their country.

Interesting reading

Brain drain and human capital formation in developing countries: winners and losers

M Beine, F Docquier, H Rapoport - The Economic Journal, 2008 - Wiley Online Library

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2008.02135.x

Thank you Guillermo for sharing.

"Brain Drain and Human Capital Formation in Developing Countries: Winners and Losers" (shared by Dr. Guillermo) - Good article. Regards

Qualified labour migration and regional knowledge economies

Martina Fromhold-Eisebith

Knowledge, industry and environment: Institutions and innovation in territorial perspective, 143-162, 2018

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781351748766/chapters/10.4324%2F9781315190327-15

This point is very important. Several developed countries with high rates of social well-being have created decades-long programs of talent attraction from around the world. It is undeniable that less attractive countries urgently need to create programs to retain their talents, while also attracting highly qualified Human Resources from other regions of the world.

Agree with Roberto, and the best example are Scandinavian countries. It is not a surprise that they occupy the top 10 ranks in any subject related to the well being of society.

The Emigration-Development Nexus: Recent Advances from the Growth Theory Perspective

F Docquier

https://perso.uclouvain.be/frederic.docquier/filePDF/RED_EmigDev.pdf

Excellent article Guillermo, thanks for sharing. Emigration, economic development and brain drain...

Who is Afraid of the Brain Drain? A Development Economist’s View1

HILLEL RAPOPORT

https://www.raco.cat/index.php/LEAP/article/viewFile/321406/411941

There is a direct relation between per capita GDP and talent retention which is why we haven’t attracted the best lot from abroad...

The talent competitiveness is better in higher income countries and it typically slips as one goes to countries with lower GDP per capita income...

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/discourse/290418/skill-of-retaining-nations-talent-brain-drain-scene-may-only-worse.html

Strong point Ljubomir, always providing further evidence. Though, what about the national spirit and its role to lift the country?? Does it count?

"Will They Stay or Will They Go? International Graduate Students and Their Decisions to Stay or Leave the U.S. upon Graduation"

This study highlights the fact that the increasing global competitiveness in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the complex, restrictive nature of U.S. immigration policies are contributing to an environment where the American STEM system may no longer be able to comfortably remain the premier destination for the world’s top international students.

Article Will They Stay or Will They Go? International Graduate Stude...

Regards

Human Rights, Governance and Public Policy to Counter the Structural Problems and Brain Drain in Latin America and HaitiMoÏse Lindor http://www.davidpublisher.org/Public/uploads/Contribute/5aab267f4cef5.pdf

Think you Guillermo for your sharing, these sources add more into the platform and enriches the discussion.

In Lebanon, even if we have a retention system for the Talent, the general thinking is to better get out, build experience and come back. When back open your own business.

Well I agree Prof Atrissi simply because the Lebanese community across time is known for its love to immigrate. Before, this was done because of the economic and political conditions, with time is to seek more experience and knowledge and later come back.

Speaking in "War for Talent," the question is very well placed. After all, we do not know if or when there will be a third world war, but this silent war for brains is daily and without respite. Hence so many interesting answers.

Dear Roberto, thank you for your input which somehow triggered more to brain drain. Amid the war for talent where you capitalize on new innovative blood away from home, there is a parallel war which was salient after the Gulf wars and a symptom among fighting parties in the Middle East which is eliminating Talent by assassination. An unfortunate coward act under different pretexts / justifications which are used under double standards.

Happily the forums in RG are transparent and most of the time constructive in their intentions.

Have you checked your country in World bank's resource "Country capacity to retain talent, 1-7 (best)"?

[1 = the best and brightest leave to pursue opportunities in other countries; 7 = the best and brightest stay and pursue opportunities in the country]

My coyntry has 1.84 points.

https://tcdata360.worldbank.org/indicators/retain.talent?country=BRA&indicator=575&viz=line_chart&years=2013,2017

Well Ljubomir, thank you for sharing.

Mexico is 3.50 & Lebanon is 2.89

Nice to know

In most cases, they are not poor countries, but countries whose capabilities and resources are controlled.

One of the most important reasons for making wars is to get the elite of economists, scientists and researchers to reduce the gap between countries by science and knowledge.

Those countries should provide them with the best, the matter is not only about money, it's about safety, respect, rights, facilities, and encouragement. The mother countries are poor in such things.

Interesting data Ljubomir!

Thank you Ljubomir for sharing. Very interesting.

Global Talent Competitiveness Index, 2018

The GTCI provides a benchmarking tool for governments, cities, businesses and not-for-profit organisations to help design their talent strategies, overcome talent mismatches and be competitive in the global marketplace.

https://gtcistudy.com/the-gtci-index/

Regards

GTCI is very good and informative resource. It brings also many other categories related to it. Thanks for sharing dear @Asit.

I have found the data about my country, link follows.

https://gtcistudy.com/the-gtci-index/#gtci-country-view

Check your country as well.

Thank you, dear Ljubomir,

If we can compare the total land area, population density, the material gap between the mighty, their elected satraps and the others. the level of corruption, industrial capacity, the availability of natural resources... it will be cabbage rolls/on average- somebody eats cabbage, somebody- meat/

Brain drain from developing countries: how can brain drain be converted into wisdom gain?

Sunita Dodani and Ronald E LaPorte

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1275994/

Thank you Guillermo for your value-added sharing.

Very much agree Tayfun. However, international firms have such obligation within their functionality in the country especially if they believe in Corporate Social Responsibility.

it ver difficult to retain intelligencea for developed countries

Serbia does not possess proper management to retain talented people. The best young architects and medical doctors leave the country. Germany is one of the country that gets our talents almost free! :(

True Vadim and Ljubomir. The root cause problem is that there is no strategic planning for many issues, especially as Vadim is proposing [which is happening in advanced countries].

Brain drain from developing countries: how can brain drain be converted into wisdom gain?

The article seeks to raise questions, identify key issues and provide solutions which would enable immigrant health professionals to share their knowledge, skills and innovative capacities and thereby enhancing the economic development of their countries.

Article Brain drain from developing countries: How can brain drain b...