Examines magnitude of immigration to U.S. of scientists, engineers and physicians -- many of whom received their training in America -- from developing nations, together with impact of that loss on those nations.

Examines magnitude of immigration to U.S. of scientists, engineers and physicians -- many of whom received their training in America -- from developing nations, together with impact of that loss on those nations.

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.

Theoretical studies of the determinants of migration by skilled persons and the output and welfare effects of such migration on the migrants and the countries of departure and destination. The volume measures the numbers of highly skilled migrants from different countries to the U.S. and Canada, with an analysis of policy alternatives.