Brain Gain, Technology Transfer and Economic Growth: Case of Tunisia

Abstract

This paper deals with a technological transfer channel from the developed North, and more specifically from Europe and America, towards Tunisia, through brain gain which includes both the "return option" as well as the "diaspora option". This idea has been the subject of this research with the aim of determining the technological diffusion vector for Tunisia, especially in front of the ineffectiveness of technology transfer channels commonly recognized as international trade, intra-industry trade and foreign direct investment. Within this framework, the empirical findings have globally shown, till 2010 which is the pre-revolution year, that Tunisia can garner benefits from Northern research and development via a return of Tunisian competencies to their country of origin (return option) while staying in the country of residence (diaspora option), by taking into consideration some categories in Europe such as teachers & researchers and other skilled executives. However, these results would be promising for the other categories of Tunisian competencies in Europe like engineers and architects, doctors and chemicals, computer scientists and lawyers and for all categories of Tunisian competencies in America, who are not so far involved in the development of their country of origin, by taking into account the post-revolutionary period that has begun in 2011, and that will extend over the medium and above all the long term. These results would be predicting a significant improvement in political and economic situation in Tunisia and therefore a favorable climate for technology transfer.

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

“…This is a quantitative variable that reflects the percentage of foreign population in the country where the host university is located. The variable rate of foreign population tries to collect pre-existing networks that migrants find when they come to this country (Dreher and Poutvaara, 2006;Docquier & Lodigiani, 2010;Grossman, 2010;Samet, 2014).  The Gross domestic product per capita of the receiving country (in $ PPP of 2005), GDP is a quantitative variable used for international comparisons of the level of economic development (Tuckman, 1970;Dreher & Poutvaara, 2006;Vojtovich, 2013;Berzinskiene et al, 2014).…”

“…In addition, scientific literature points out the existence of migrant networks in the host countries as other important reason of migration for highly skilled migrants (Docquier & Lodigiani, 2010;Grossman, 2010;Samet, 2014). In this sense, the theory of migration network stresses that the probability of the international migration should be greater for those who are related to individuals with previous foreign migration experiences, or those connected with other subjects currently living abroad (Massey et al, 1993).…”

“…The higher barriers to immigration, the more importance of these networks is visible. Thus, the migration network constitutes an excellent predictor of international migration (Samet, 2014) In addition to this, migration networks establish a reputation for the sameorigin workers encouraging others to migrate (Docquier & Lodigiani, 2010). It also reduces transaction and information costs.…”

“…Much of this studies focus on the determinants on highly-skilled migration (Daugeliene, 2007). Along with classic economic factors of migration such as the Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP) (Dreher & Poutvaara, 2006), other aspects were found relevant such as migration networks (Docquier & Lodigiani, 2010;Grossman, 2010;Samet, 2014) and the prestige of academic institutions (Tuckman, 1970;Mixon, 1992;Dreher & Poutvaara, 2006;Fossland, 2013).…”

“…Migration of highly skilled workers is articulated by networks that favor flows and settlement of these workers (Docquier & Lodigiani, 2010;Samet, 2014). Moreover, similarly to the case of international companies who decide the best way to access to international new markets, the existence of networks is a key factor for skilled migrants (Dreher & Poutvaara, 2006;Tang & Liu, 2011).…”