The Migration Development Nexus - Coursework Example

The Migration Development Nexus This paper focuses on the problem of “brain drain,” the net exporting of highly skilled professionals from Ghana and other developing countries to developed countries. This has negative developmental challenges to Ghana since it results into serious loss of human capital which results into negative results on investment in education. This paper also outlines the political, social and economic impacts of brain drain loss of future development through the loss of highly intellectual individuals, shortages of skilled workers in highly sensitive sectors like education and health care and the country of origin also tends to lose tax contributions from the individual which is instead earned by the foreign and rich countries. Lastly, the paper focuses on three key strategies to manage brain drain and prevent loss of human capital through migration. Introduction The development and migration have been linked as a nexus of policy since scholars believe migration is closely related to development. Migration has both positive and negative impacts on the development with respect to the origin and destination of immigrants. One of the problems that are often talked about within the context of migration development nexus is the mass exodus of high skilled and professional labor from the developing to developed countries, referred to as “brain drain.” According to Gibson & McKenzie (2012), brain drain is causing serious developmental challenges to Ghana since it results into serious loss of human capital which results into negative results on investment in education (Asampong et al 2013). There exist tension between national policies of many first world nations which aim at attracting high skilled labor while at the same time striving to prevent brain drain but instead stimulate growth in developing countries like Ghana. While migration of high skilled professional results into increased remittances to the developing countries, these remittances do not balance with the cost of educational investment. Research show that brain drain has negative impacts on the development and economic growth of many countries in which the migration rate is more than twenty percent while the percentage of people with higher education is above five percent. This has negative impact on the economy of small countries like Ghana and many other countries in Central America and Sab-Saharan Africa. Gibson & McKenzie (2012) examined the impacts of brain drain and included the impact of remittances, the effects of diaspora, the impacts of governance and corruption, human capital formulation and concluded that the migration of highly skilled professional has a negative impact on the sending nation. According to Agbiboa (2012), the migration of individuals from Ghana to rich countries often benefit the individual migrants and their immediate families but do not benefit the individuals country thus result into slow economic growth. Generally, the impacts of brain drain resulting from migration often outweigh remittances since there were few high skilled professionals. Effects of Brain Drain Brain drain often results from the movement of intellectuals and highly skilled professionals like lecturers and researchers from one country to another on either short term or permanent basis through exchange programs thus broaden the cultural horizons through dissemination of knowledge. The movement and interaction of professionals across borders is important in stimulating development through innovation and exchange of technology. It also creates employment for the countries with high unemployment rates thus is expected to result into economic development of a country. However, when such movement of high skilled labor makes a country a net exporter of academic talent, a condition referred to as brain drain is said to occur (Gibson & McKenzie, 2012). The balance between remittances and brain drain must exist for the sending country to experience economic growth. According to Gibson & McKenzie (2012), when a nation is a net exporter of high skilled human capital, the nation is at risk of depleting its natural supply of intellectual talent. Research shows that education play key role in influencing rural urban migration especially in the developing countries like Ghana Agbiboa (2012). Various studies have also supported the positive relationship between individuals’ education achievement and their interest to migrate to urban areas. Research has also supported the role of education in influencing the migration of skilled individuals from poor countries to developed countries. According to Gibson & McKenzie (2012), engineers, physicians, nurses, scientists and academics who have gained training courtesy of available scares resources in the developing countries like Ghana at the expense of social costs within their countries move to developed countries in search of better paying jobs. While the home countries incur high social costs for the anticipated benefits of their countries, they are often left helpless due to the loss thousands of high skilled professionals for the benefit of the rich countries (Gibson & McKenzie, 2012). Other impacts of brain drain are loss of future development through the loss of highly intellectual individuals, shortages of skilled workers in highly sensitive sectors like education and health care and the country of origin also tends to lose tax contributions from the individual which is instead earned by the foreign and rich countries. Root Couse of Brain Drain Economic factors One of the root causes of brain drain resulting from migration is the lack of employment in many developing countries like Ghana. According to Gibson & McKenzie (2012), immigrants move to developed countries due to low salaries and lack of employment hence people are forced to look for alternatives elsewhere. It is estimated that over 700 Ghanaian physicians have been working in the United States of America while Chicago alone accounts for more than 300 Ethiopian physicians while more than twenty academicians from Nigeria are employed in the same country (Gibson & McKenzie, 2012). This study also reported that up to twenty thousand high skilled professionals leave Africa on a yearly basis to look for better paying jobs in other countries. Economic and social analysts have often raised concern over the rate of immigration of these professionals and suggested that it could be one of the reasons for persistent underdevelopment in Ghana and many developing countries in Central America and Africa in general. Political Causes Political instability in many poor countries is also cited as another cause of migration from poor countries to developed countries. According to Agbiboa (2012), highly skilled professional lose confidence in their government as well as the future prospects for better life in their own countries. Due to poor governance, there is often unequal allocation of resources in which the poor continue to be poor and weaker while the rich remain richer and stronger. In this respect, the highly skilled professional may find it difficult working on their nations due to cultural background, ethnicity, regional political groupings and being in opposition in their home countries. Due to low levels of democracy in these nations, oppositions are often oppressed thus many may opt to leave to other nations. According to Gibson & McKenzie (2012), civil wars, social and political turmoil is one of the leading causes of migration to developed countries in the modern society. Sociological Causes Many Ghanaians migrate to developed countries like America since they are willing to work for low wages and poor working conditions. Also due to the instability of most employments in Ghana, there is a drive to look for jobs with stable social security abroad. According to Agbiboa (2012), the penetration of the capitalist world system coupled by desperate job seekers in developing countries is an ingredient for emigration. In this respect, the transformation of the capitalist world has mainly created demand for immigrant in the developed countries. New report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) estimates that Africa has lost up to a third of its professional workforce in the last four decades which has resulted into four billion dollars cost of replacement by the expatriates from the west (Gibson & McKenzie, 2012). The report also states that rich nations like the United Kingdom and the United States of America have saved more than twenty six billion dollars each. This present a severe consequence on the parts of the developing countries like Ghana since if nothing is done; their governments will continue spending more on education which will not result into any productive outcome. As stated by Agbiboa (2012), persistent income disparities play an important role in brain drain. It is estimated that the average wage of a Ghanaian doctor and registered nurse is $470 and $400 respectively. However, the monthly pay for a nurse in the United Kingdom is estimated at $2576 while that of an immigrant nurse is $116500 (Agbiboa, 2012). These statistics speaks for themselves since as can be seen from the above statistics, capitalist in developed countries are likely to hire more immigrants to save on the wage bill while the immigrants will be very much attracted to the salaries offered by the developed countries. Possible Solutions to Curve Brain Drain Managing the problem of brain drain is a global issue, however, Ghana and the most affected developing countries must take immediate steps in order to promote economic growth and development in their countries. The first way of curving immigration and brain drain is for Ghana and the developing countries to ensure proper governance and stable political environment. As we have discussed above, political instability is cited as one of the key factors contributing to brain drain. As stated by Gibson & McKenzie (2012), a reasonable security for the lives and property of people is essential for the economic progress of nation since it reduces the number of high skilled immigrants who move to other nations to seek security. Transparency in leadership as well as equality in distribution of resources should be maintained at all levels of governance in order to promote peace and growth of economy (Oberman, 2013). The governments of Ghana should also come up with a wage strategy that focuses on the citizens that the expatriates. This can be achieved by ensuring that the government is efficient and losses due to corruption are managed and reduced. Offering high salaries for high skilled professionals in the sensitive sectors like healthcare and education is important since it prevent exodus by professionals. It is important to note that overestimation and hiring of expatriates is very expensive thus paying nationals according to their qualifications is an alternative. Brain drain contributed to by those seeking higher education abroad can be prevented by expanding the education system within the countries of origin. This would result into increased opportunities within their own countries thus there will be no need for migration as most areas of study would be covered by the government. As stated early in this text, education plays an important role in the immigration and brain drain thus there is need not only to expand the education system, but also to relook at the quality of education offered by the government (Asampong et al 2013). The government must therefore focus its investment in technological advancement in areas of their strength such as agriculture. Creating opportunities within the host countries is therefore very important in managing brain drain. The government can also manage the problem of brain drain by discouraging movement of skilled professionals by not only creating opportunities for them to work in their own countries but also putting barriers. This can be achieved by giving incentives to highly professional individuals working within their countries through good working conditions while imposing tax on emigrants who are indigenously trained in the host countries. However, this must be approached through the international labor laws since it may be viewed as infringing on the freedom of movement and particularly where to live and work across the world (Oberman, 2013). References Agbiboa, D. (2012). Offsetting the Development Costs? Brain drain and the role of training and remittances. Third World Quarterly, 33(9), 1669-1683 Asampong, E., Harrison, J., Yarney, L., Opoku-Mensah, K., Karim, A., & Fobil, J. N. (2013). Back to my roots: a study of returning emigrated health professionals in the greater Accra region of Ghana. Africa Today Magazine, (4), 119. Gibson, J., & McKenzie, D. (2012). The Economic Consequences of Brain Drain of the Best and Brightest: Microeconomic Evidence from Five Countries*. Economic Journal, 122(560), 339-375. Oberman, K. (2013). Can Brain Drain Justify Immigration Restrictions?. Ethics, 123(3), 427-455. Read More