Post by Nathan Romig. Colgate Class of 2022.

Source: Dordevic, N. (2021, April 20). “Brain drain? In Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia there are signs of ‘brain gain’.” Emerging Europe.

The article begins by explaining how the Western Balkans region as a whole has been experiencing negative impacts from brain drain, but a recent study from the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) explains that Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are experiencing increased levels of highly-educated immigrants. Highly-educated young people from Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Kosovo have been migrating to Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia because of extremely high youth unemployment rates in their home countries. This creates an interesting situation for both sets of countries because Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Kosovo are experiencing brain drain, while Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are experiencing brain gain. Serbia, in specific, has experienced an increase in high-skilled immigration because students from surrounding countries come to attend university and then return to their home countries after increasing their human capital. Based on what we discussed in class, there is a greater marginal benefit to migrants in the countries experiencing brain gain than in the countries experiencing brain drain. Countries experiencing brain drain can suffer from a decrease in tax revenue, a decrease in possible entrepreneurs, and a loss of public confidence in the economy. Countries experiencing brain gain benefit in human capital investment, an increase in important skilled workers, and the network connections established from migration.