Human Capital Investment, Migration Strategy, Self Selection, and the Brain Drain

Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 319-335, 2005

17 Pages Posted: 5 Jun 2004 Last revised: 13 Dec 2016

Date Written: 2005

Abstract

This research was motivated by the increasing number of foreign students and scientists who are in the United States on temporary visas who are able to change their status to permanent immigrant. Origin countries, among them industrialized western European nations, are concerned about losing many of their best educated and most talented citizens. This article modifies and extends a theoretical model of optimal human capital investment before and after migration to shed new light on the emigration/immigration of the highly skilled, and explores some possible implications for the study of the so-called brain drain phenomenon.

Keywords: Brain Drain, Emigration, Human Capital, Immigration, Self-Selection, Immigration Strategy

JEL Classification: F22, I2, J24, J61, O15

Suggested Citation

Schaeffer, Peter V., Human Capital Investment, Migration Strategy, Self Selection, and the Brain Drain (2005). Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 319-335, 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=554781

Peter V. Schaeffer (Contact Author)

West Virginia University ( email )

P.O. Box 6108
Morgantown, WV 26506-6108
United States
304-293-5572 (Phone)
304-293-3752 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.petervschaeffer.com

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