The Effect of Brain Drain and Economic Growth in the MENA Region

Today brain drain is considered a significant phenomenon in developing countries. Brain drain is particularly important for countries in the Middle East and North Africa that are less developed and face disadvantages such as low economic growth and high unemployment rates. Typically, elites and specialists from less developed countries migrate to more developed countries to use the facilities of destination countries. Given the importance of human capital in theories of endogenous growth, brain drain can have deleterious effects for countries of origin. Therefore, this study examines the effect of brain drain on the economic growth of selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa. For this purpose, panel data was used to examine the relationship between the variables during the period 2015-2000. The results of the research indicate that there is a negative and significant relationship between brain drain and economic growth in such a way that a one percent increase in brain drain, with the assumption of the stability of other conditions, averaged 2.5% of production growth. The results of the research indicate that there is a negative and significant relationship between brain drain and economic growth in such a way that a one percent increase in brain drain, with the assumption of the stability of other conditions, averaged 2.5% of production growth.