BRAIN DRAIN IN THE WORLD AND TÜRKİYE: CONCEPTS, HISTORICAL PROCESSES AND DEBATES

Abstract

Brain drain refers to the international migration of people with high educational qualifications. ‘Brain circulation’, ‘brain gain’ and ‘reverse brain drain’ are the terms that are frequently referred to when discussing this phenomenon. The view in current academic research and political debates that brain drain has a positive impact on a country's development contrasts with the narrower and nationalist view that it has a negative impact on a country's development. If technological infrastructures, research centers, communication networks and living opportunities are not provided to encourage the return of qualified people, the possible consequences of brain drain for developing countries can be negative. This review article aims to summarize, synthesize and interpret the existing knowledge on this topic. The main questions are ‘how brain drain has been experienced in the historical process, what are the important milestones, its status in Turkey and other countries, and its significance for Turkey in the context of effects for the countries’.

Keywords: Brain drain, Brain circulation, Brain gain, Reverse brain drain, Ability drain.