Reversing the brain drain from Eastern European countries: the push' and pull' factors

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Technology in Society; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-791X(93)90029-N· OSTI ID:6865994

Vizi, E S ^[1]

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1. Postgraduate Medical School, Budapest (Hungary) Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest (Hungary) Yeshiva Univ., New York, NY (United States)

A mass departure of intellectuals is going on in countries such as Poland, Russia, the Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. There is growing concern about the increasing number of intellectuals who have left, or are going to leave, these countries. The main problem is not that scientists and intellectuals are leaving to go abroad to work under better conditions - that is certainly beneficial for science as a whole. Rather, the problem occurs when they do not return. The migration of professionals, even if it is only temporary, only reflects the operation of an international market for specialized human capital. However, a minimum level of human capital is indispensable to a country's economic development. A loss of skilled human resources will ultimately have a grave impact on the economy and jeopardize development programs. There are several reasons for this migration. Top-level scientists have always been drawn to countries that offer greater attractions - facilities, salaries, career prospects, satisfaction, prestige. Drastic changes are needed in the official policy toward R D in Eastern European Countries. The atmosphere must be changed to make it more favorable for intellectual work. In addition, international agencies and governments of developed countries should help these poorer countries to reverse the brain drain. A program of Science and Technology for stability should be created in order to provide direct assistance to basic and applied scientific and technical research in these countries. 16 refs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6865994
• Journal Information: Technology in Society; (United States), Journal Name: Technology in Society; (United States) Vol. 15:1; ISSN 0160-791X; ISSN TESODY
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
ANIMALS
BULGARIA
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EASTERN EUROPE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EUROPE
HUNGARY
MAMMALS
MAN
PERSONNEL
POLAND
PRIMATES
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
ROMANIA
SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL
TRANSPORT
UKRAINE
VERTEBRATES