Malaysian Model United Nations
Forum:
The Economic and Social Council I (ECOSOC I)
Issue:
Combating brain drain in LEDCs
Student Officer: Yewon Kim
Position:
President of the Economic and Social Council I
Introduction
The
key
ingredients
for
constructive
development in any country are a stable government, a
strong economy and a skilled population. A skilled
population allows the country to develop internationally
recognized firms and invent efficient gadgets. Brain
drain is an exodus of educated members leaving their
country for More Economically Developed Countries
(MEDCs). It hinders “brain drain’” the development of
Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) and
resulting in a “brain gain” for MEDCs. This means that
even if higher education is given to more of the
population in LEDCs, nations will still face problems
with scarcity of skilled labor in their economy.
There are many factors effecting brain drain,
varying from: conflict, opportunity for higher education
in MEDC, higher job conditions and wages, personal
Figure #1: An info graphic showing the skills gap
between LEDCs and MEDCs
dissatisfaction, poor health care etc. This is why it is a
problem that can only be solved by improving living standards
in the LEDCs so that incentive can lure
back the skilled workforce.
Brain drain had always been present throughout the ages, whether it was through scholars
moving to Greece during the golden age, to the House of Wisdom during the Islamic Golden age or out
of Europe during the WW2. The issue is that immigration substantially got easier in the 21st century due
to globalization and developed transport networks- now anyone with determination in a LEDC can move
out permanently. Statistics show on average 1,8000 skilled Africans left the continent annually between
1960 and 1975 but by 1990, the figure rose to 200000!
MYMUN Research Report | Page 1 of 4
Malaysian Model United Nations
Definition of Key Terms
Brain Drain
The mass emigration of technically skilled people out of one country– also known as “The human
capital flight”.
Brain Gain
Opposite of brain drain– when skilled workers are migrating into the country. Countries
experiencing this include: USA, Canada and UK.
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UNO specialized in education, sciences, culture and communication, information, which
contributes towards planning and achieving goals related to this issue.
Immigration
The act of leaving a country permanently to live in another country.
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
UNO committed to conducting humane and orderly migration in society.
General Overview
Combatting Brain Drain
Here are the five main factors indicated by UNESCO to have been trending amongst current
migrants. If these factors can be dealt with properly, many negative consequences of the loss of skilled
nationals can be reduced.
Ethnicities
Each country has a different migration policy and this greatly affects the rate of
immigration of members. Adjusting a skilled migration policy for each LEDC country could be a
solution however it must adherent individual human rights and their safety. Consider whether
sectors like health should have different rights to leave, as they are responsible for the lives of
many individuals in the country.
Between states, markets and people
MYMUN Research Report | Page 2 of 4
Malaysian Model United Nations
Brain drain is influenced by three powerful conditions: the situation of the state, the jobs
offered by business and the ability to manage human resources. Some nations may actually aim
to export their workers (services) internationally to earn wages. This means countries should
specifically design policies depending on how they want to manage skilled immigrants. For
example Ghanaians living abroad contribute about $400 million US dollars resulting as the fourth
highest national source of foreign exchange.
Other matters
It is important to consider who has promoted brain drain (e.g. the American Dream), how
they promoted it and what specifically interested the skilled class of workers about a particular
location. Moreover, just as transportation has increased the number of workers leaving the
country, it has also enabled more workers to return to the country with more knowledge, wealth
this is called brain circulation.
The future of brain drain
The views of brain drain can possibly change in the future, as brain circulation has
continuously increased with the help of the International Communication Technology (ICT), which
helps to benefit LEDC nations facing brain drain. Nations in desperate need of foreign help can
instead send skilled members to MEDCs in order to learn the best practices conduct innovative
ideas and meet skilled experts that can be used to develop a stronger nation. If brain drain is
intentionally planned, it can potentially result in increased knowledge.
Timeline of Events
Date
Description of event
1960
Beginning of the debate over brain drain
2002
UNESCO Project on the International Migrants’ Rights Convention Established
2006
UNESCO-IOM Migration Museums Initiative established
2008
Regional Migration Agreements established
2009
Migration and Climate Change project established
2009
Skilled Migration and Brain Drain project established
UN Involvement, Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events
MYMUN Research Report | Page 3 of 4
Malaysian Model United Nations
Since brain drain is an international problem where LEDCs and MEDCs are affected, UNESCO
has conducted many projects attempting to alleviate the situations.
•
UNESCO Project on the International Migrants’ Rights Convention undertook a series of country
studies on the barriers and the political and social impacts that could be made with the
convention. July 2003
•
UNESCO-IOM Migration Museums Initiative was the start of the collaboration of UNESCO and
the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They promoted the exchange of information on
experiences and the history of immigration by setting up museums in receiving countries, 2006.
•
UNESCO’s Migration and Climate Change project to provide a comprehensive overview of
impacts of climate change on migration, 2011
•
Regional Migration Agreements enabled UNESCO to investigate the establishment of free
movement within regional organizations throughout the world
•
UNESCO’s Skilled Migration and Brain Drain established to find out reasons of people’s
aspirations towards mobility and migration
Bibliography
Persianov, Igor. "Articles' Categories | St. Petersburg International Model United Nations (SPIMUN)."
Articles' Categories | St. Petersburg International Model United Nations (SPIMUN). N.p., n.d.
Web. 20 Jan. 2013. <http://www.spimun.com/index.php?p=articles&id=36>.
"What Is Brain Drain?" What Is Brain Drain? N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.thegeminigeek.com/what-is-brain-drain/> .
"Skilled Migration and Brain Drain | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization."
Unescoorg RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. <http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-andhuman-sciences/themes/international-migration/projects/skilled-migration-and-brain-drain/>.
"Projects | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization." Unescoorg RSS. N.p., n.d.
Web. 20 Jan. 2013. <http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-humansciences/themes/international-migration/projects/>.
"International Organization for Migration." Mission -. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/about-iom-1/mission.html>.
MYMUN Research Report | Page 4 of 4