(Tablet) Orly Lobel - A new report from the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies shows that Israelis are disproportionately represented in academic institutions abroad. However, according to a report I recently co-authored for the UN Industrial Development Organization, "brain circulation" - the flip side of the dreaded brain drain - describes a country's connectedness, which directly influences its economic development. Skilled emigration is significantly and positively correlated with foreign investment in the country of departure. Regions that encourage open circulation of talent win the most. The real analysis of "brain drain" should take into account not only the costs of skilled nationals living abroad but also the benefits of diaspora networks. Israelis aren't the only ones playing in this field. Silicon Valley's Taiwanese and Indian engineering communities also show how this connectivity operates. The result is a global network between the sending and receiving country that enhances opportunities for both countries. The writer is Professor of Law at the University of San Diego and founding faculty member of the university's Center for Intellectual Property and Markets.
2013-12-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive