Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/35079 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 3366
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper theoretically and empirically analyzes the interaction of emigration of highly skilled labor, an economy's income gap to potential host economies of expatriates, and optimal public infrastructure investment. In a model with endogenous education and R&D investment decisions we show that international integration of the market for skilled labor aggravates between-country income inequality by harming those which are source economies to begin with while benefiting host economies. When brain drain increases in source economies, public infrastructure investment is optimally adjusted downward, whereas host economies increase it. Evidence from 77 countries well supports our theoretical hypotheses.
Subjects: 
Brain drain
cross-country evidence
educational choice
public infrastructure investment
R&D investment
JEL: 
F22
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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