Migration Issues

Migration is not a new phenomena. Since the beginning of the humankind, migration has been present. Remember the nomads or Moses? It is as if it came in the package of being human or as if someone told you: hey, you're human, so you can move to other places! But it happens also with animals! Have you ever heard about Serengeti? But it isn't our topic now, so let's get serious. Migration has become a problem for both developed and developing countries. On the one hand, developed countries are receiving huge quantities of people from other countries, who look for better coditions of living, higher incomes or, simply, a job; but their inhabitants also need jobs. Developing countries, on the other hand, are losing valuable human capital or human resources, or whatever you want to call it. While developing countries are in need of qualified people able of bringing development to their economies and societies, these persons are in need of better payments and more adequate conditions for their skills.

Now, remember I talked at the beginning about Serengeti? There occurs one of the biggest migrations in the animal kingdom. Well, it's not too crazy to say that the motivation of those animals to migrate is exactly the same as in many cases for humans: they're looking for food and better conditions of living. Although migration because of violence or climate disasters occurs in the world, I'm going to be focused on migration related with qualified persons looking for higher incomes in other countries.

For the question about how brain drain can be stopped and changed into something benefical for developing countries, the answer is: nothing! But why nothing? Well, if we take into account that not even developed countries have been able to fully stop their brain drain, could developing countries do so? Just think about it. But another totally different question would be if it can be diminished. That's another thing. And yes, it can. But how? Simple: give those qualified persons the conditions of living they're looking for, but in their own country!

Let's think on something. Everything else equal, would you study and prepare yourself, and invest money in upgrading your knowledge and discovering new one (because knowledge costs and it is expensive!), just to stay in your developing country and recover your investment in something like 40 or 50 years? Come on! It is even rude to suggest that! Unless, of course, you'd be too philanthropic. So the solution is simple: developing countries have to make a whole labor reform, through which most skilled persons receive payments at developed countries standards, with the condition they contribute to the development of the country by working in the public or private sector, but adding value to the organizations with their capacities. Scientist must be granted with good laboratories and resources for investigation; governments shall collaborate with universities; corporations shall stop exploting their employees in such a nasty way as it happens in developing countries.

Many things can be done! But change costs! It is up to the governments and the private sector if they're willing to invest money, in order to improve. And what if the public budget is not enough? Well assign priorities: you, governments and corporations, want to create a rocking country or a country of pale rocks?



Images' Sources:

• Serengeti Migration Tanzania. Encompass Africa. Retrieved on 14th May, 2011, from: http://www.encompassafrica.com.au/article.asp?aid=31
• Biz/Ed. Retrieved on 14th May, 2011, from: http://www.bized.co.uk/compfact/degussa/degussaindex.htm?page=show
• Public Finance. Savings Investors. Retrieved on 14th May, 2011, from: http://www.savingsinvestors.com/category/public-finance