Highly-Skilled Migration, Migrant Networks and the Prestige of Academic Institutions

Abstract

This research analyzed the connection between highly skilled migration and several determining factors such as the migration networks, the prestige of academic institutions and the Gross Domestic Product per capita. We used linear regression method to analyze a sample of 207 countries, 25 receiving countries and 182 sending countries, from 6 different world regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central & South America and Oceania). We performed a global analysis including all the countries of the sample and also a partial analysis by each world region of origin. The results at global level showed that migration networks and the prestige of academic institution explained very well the number of highly skilled immigrants. In this sense, the prestigious academic institutions of the receiving countries imply economic incentives and benefits for skilled migrants. Further, relationships and linkages are an important help for highly skilled migrants. Thus both would act like external and internal networks attracting highly skilled migrants. Regarding to the partial analysis these factors were also relevant to explain the highly skilled migration, but the results varied depending on each region. In the case of Africa and Central & South America the relevant factor explaining the highly-skilled migration was the prestige of academic institutions of the receiving countries. However in the regions of Europe, North America, and Oceania results were similar to the global analysis. In Asia all factors were significant.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.26.5.12463