Introduction
Brain drain which is also referred to as the Human capital flight is the mass departure of persons or individuals possessing technical skills and knowledge from a certain region, country or even continent. Causes of such departures could be caused by various reasons such as unemployment, wars, or health threats. The imposed sanctions by the United Nation have only served to increase this trend in Iran. The impacts of brain drain are far reaching both to the economy and to the social welfare of the country. This tends to become a liability to countries as the governments have invested heavily to educate and pass knowledge to the individuals, through existent schools, universities research centers. (Emsia, 2007).
Causes of Brain Drain
Due to deteriorating conditions brought forth by violence and political instability in the country, many of the educated citizens of Iran have left the nation to go and seek greener pastures abroad. As the country continues to progress it is slowly realizing that it cannot sustain any development without the input of human capital. Scarcity of educated and skilled people has reached alarming proportions and their retention is becoming harder and harder as the developed nations are calling out for their skills. Brain drain has also been contributed by the aging demography in the developed countries. Iran’s inability to catch the attention, inspire and retain professionals was a problem recognized since the early days of the Islamic revolution (Gupta, 2008). It is estimated that over one hundred and fifty thousand of the country’s elite and distinguished citizens have left the country as a result on crack down on both students and professors deemed to be anti- government. This trend has been continuing and has been on the upswing as the violence continues to rock the region. This has led to a slow and steady disintegration of systems and thriving institutions such as courts, hospitals and schools that serve the society. Destinations of choice for the professionals are Western Europe, Australia, US, and China which has had recent dramatic economic growth.
Impact of Brain Drain
- Worsening economic conditions: A recent government report estimated that the Iran was loosing about $40 billion every year due to brain drain. Economic plan and policies are not being realized as the human capital responsible to drive these initiatives is not present. Each professional leaving the country is likened to about a number of oil wells being destroyed (Grubel, 1977).
- Absence of good governance: The mass departure of professionals and researchers has led to the loss of managers and skilled personnel to run the civil and private sector in Iran. Senior individuals being elevated to powerful government solutions are being chosen due to political patronage rather than on merit because the elite people capable of running the country have left (Vahid, 2005).
- Poor or lack of services: Due to weak social institutions, services such as healthcare, education and security are absent to the people of Iran this reduces the quality of life in the country. This only serves to increase brain drain as this are the same reasons being used by the professionals to leave the country in the first place (Javad, 2005).
Conclusion: Attempts to Reverse Brain Drain
Drastic Measures being taken by the government to address this problem include, provision of research facilities in universities and creation of jobs for their skilled professionals. The Iran National Science Foundation has been established to reverse this devastating trend (Yehuda, 1975).
References
Emsia, E. (2007). Brain drain from Iran to the US (1970-2000). Tehran: Eastern Mediterranean University.
Grubel, H. (1977). The brain drain: determinants, measurement, and welfare effects. Hamburg: Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press.
Gupta, S. (2008). The cultures of economic migration: international perspectives. London: Ashgate Publishing.
Javad, M. (2005). Trade, industrialization and the firm in Iran: the impact of government policy on business. Tehran: I.B.Tauris.
Vahid, R. (2009). The Age Of Nepotism. Bombay: Vahid Razavi.
Yehuda, H. (1975). The economic structure of the Middle East. New York: Brill Archive.