Sociology

The movement of professionals from their native countries to other countries in search of better living standards is referred to as brain drain. Professionals migrate in search of various aspects such as improved technology, higher salaries, quality life amongst other favorable conditions. The prevailing political states in ones country may contribute to migration in search of places with political stability. Political instability affects development since the environment is unfavorable. The migration of professionals from developing countries to other countries and even to international countries is of major concern since it has posed major impacts to the developing countries. Most of the professionals in various disciplines such as engineering and medicine look for better opportunities in developed countries (Pang, Lansang, Haines, 2002). This is very detrimental to the developing countries which are left hopeless after snatching away the qualified personnel who could have fostered development. It is unethical for talented people to move from developing countries to developed countries. These talents should be invested in developing their countries.
    The migration of skilled human resources is normally influenced by trade and education. Education qualifications render one fit to work in any country with less difficulties. Professionals are required all over the world. Having this in mind, migration of professionals from developing countries to developed countries takes place. The parameters which contribute to this migration are political instability in native countries, higher salaries, quality life calling for improved living standards and improved technology (Mejia, 1999). Developing countries invest a lot in education their young people who end up migrating to other countries in search of greener pastures. This leads to big losses in these countries while the recipient countries are advantaged. The recipient countries normally enjoy since they did not participate in funding the education of the immigrants.
    Intellectuals migrate from their own countries because of various driving forces which be attributed by political reasons or economic reasons. Security is very crucial in oneself. Security threat to ones family may lead to migration in search of secure environment for ones family. Unemployment and low salaries may also make one migrate. Job satisfaction is all an intellectual requires of which its lack might lead to migration. Looking for higher living standards also leads to migration of people from their own countries. There have been high numbers of immigrants in those countries which offer these favorable conditions.  Professionals emigrants have been highly attracted in developed where they offer higher salaries, have higher living standards, offer quality life, and have advanced technology (Bach, 2003). These immigrants make substantial contributions to the host countries. These contributions are directed towards economic development, scientific and technological advancement. This advancement is for the betterment of humanity.
There have been various professionals who migrated to other countries creating much impact. For instance, the German scientists who migrated to America during the Second World War had much impact in United States. These scientists made various inventions and discoveries which were of great importance to United States. Thus based on global level, migration of qualified personnel is of great importance since it brings about interaction probing for injections and discoveries (Levy, 2003). This is not the case for home countries who bare many losses. These home countries become less developed and also the level of investment goes down.
    Western Europe was the main contributor of qualified personnel who migrated to United States in such of higher living standards. This was witnessed up to around 1960 when the main loser of intellectuals was drifted to developing countries. Developing countries has taken over as the main suppliers of professionals to developed countries. This has been the case for the recent few years in which there has been rampant movement of qualified people from developing countries to the industrialized countries (Kupfer, et al, 2004). The number of skilled expatriates from developing countries to developed countries has risen to around three million. These qualified expatriates have been settled in industrialized countries such as Japan, United States, Japan, Western Europe and Canada. These expatriates have rendered much contribution in the host countries and mostly in the educational system. They have also been settled in the research where have rendered much contributions.
The disparities between the poor countries and rich nations have been contributed to some by this migration. These disparities occurs since the Home Counties are deprived their qualified personnel who could have brought forth development. Thus the expatriates are highly required in the developing countries but not in the developed countries to remove the existing disparity.
    Some continents such as Africa have shortage of manpower. Having short of manpower Africa has been highly hit by brain draining which has led to lose of qualified personnel. Africa has lost many professionals in various disciplines such as medicine and engineering. This has been a set back to develop since there are no intellectuals to support and direct development projects. Inventions have been minimal in minimal since most of the skilled persons have moved to developed countries where they are involved in research. Africa has lost over 300 000 qualified personnel in form of engineers, lecturers, surveyors, doctors and skilled expatriates in other fields (Levy, 2003). This number has gone in the recent few years due to the migration of qualified persons in search of higher living standards.
    There have been high numbers of migration which have reported leaving behind many loopholes. For instance, a high number of doctors amounting to around 30 000 have moved from Nigeria to practice in the United States. This number is too high noting that in a country the number of qualified doctors may not reach this number. There has been   a setback in the Nigeria health system due to this migration. It has been reporting that Nigeria health system lacks medical practitioners. There are also other Nigeria doctors serving elsewhere in the world. Ghana has also been spotted as having lost a large number of doctors of where trained in that county. Sudan is also amongst the highest countries by migration of professionals. Human development report there has been rampant movement of qualified people from Sudan to other countries. They migrated to work in abroad as lecturers, doctors, surveyors, dentists and even as engineers.
    The development in developing countries has been affected by movement of qualified expatriates to other countries. The living cost of professionals in the host country is minimal compared to whatever they are giving in exchange. The living cost may be in terms of nutrition, education, health care. It is clear that developing countries are losing professionals to industrialized nations. Imagine losing 500 qualified engineers at once from a country. This deprives the country an opportunity to set up engineering projects. Investment in these fields is also affected since there is no one to support and manage them.
    There have been records indicating the amount of contributions the migrants are making to host countries. It has been reported that every skilled migrant from the developing countries contributed up to 25 000 yearly in 1972. This report which was compiled by United States Congressional Research service showed that the skilled migrants were very beneficial to United States since they were in a position to cater for their living cost and bring forth some revenues to the government (Martin, Torouanne, Neher, 1998). Relating these annual revenues to the number of qualified personnel who moved to abroad, it can be ascertained that Africa lost investment equating to around  3 billion between 1985 and 1990. The number of emigrated people to abroad could helped the continent to invest more than 3 billion towards development. Recent statistics indicate that those qualified personnel aged between 25 and 35 contributed to  185 000 annually to the host countries. These statistics indicate the much developing is being affected by brain draining while the recipient stands at the benefiting end.
    The professionals who have migrated to other countries contribute to their home countries by giving out remittances to their relatives which are used in putting up some small projects. Some of these remittances are used to support some developmental projects, education, and health care. These remittances are used by some household for sustenance. Money which is received overseas from abroad has being used to facilitate various projects. Most of the development project within Africa has been supported by remittances (Ratha, 2003). Although, there have been some contributions from the skilled expatriate who migrated to other countries, the loss which have brought about as a result of brain drain in developing countries is extensive.
    The international community has been highly concerned by the problem posed as a result of brain drain. It has been a dilemma to solve this problem since there are qualified people who are willing to might from their own countries to other countries. At the same time, the host countries are willing to receive more qualified personnel to work in their country. This brings about crossroads. Brain drain is an issue which can not be solved by enacting a law neither through the use of force. Brain drain is normally attached to human rights which advocates for freedom of movement anywhere in the world. Although this can be controlled through immigration policies formulated in any country, brain drain is still a problem.
Brain drain is a national matter which can be addressed at national level by soothing people to stay in their own countries. This can only be achieved by providing the favorable conditions available in the host countries such as high salaries, quality life, higher living standards and political stability. The assurance of family security is also an area of concern to curb brain drain. Liberal immigration policies can also be put in place by host countries. These policies which have been used in United States and some parts of Europe regulate the number of immigration in the industrialized countries (Mejia, 1999). These policies which are normally restrictive towards immigration have not been fully followed since there are thousands of immigrants in these host countries. Liberalization of labor market can help solve the problem of brain drain.
    There are various reasons which have contributed to brain drain in Africa which can be addressed. These reasons which are either political or structural can highlighted and dealt with. The structuring of the school curriculum has been seen as one of the reasons which have contributed to brain drain. Most of the countries follow the curricula which resemble the one of their colonial masters. Most of the education system in African countries use the system applied by their colonial masters. Africa is known to lag behind in technology and economy and thus bringing forth a school curriculum applicable in industrialized countries may be detrimental and of no help. A school curriculum should be designed to take care of the prevailing conditions in a country both technologically and economically.
Therefore, adapting a curriculum followed in industrialized creates a vacuum in the job market. This has led to migration of professional to industrialized countries where they can fit comfortably. It true that the education system is not equipped to tackle the development needs in Africa. The education system in Africa is mostly based on arts due to lack of relevant teachers in science and also the lack of science equipment. This is disadvantageous to Africa science and technology is the driving force for economic growth and development. The art system is a barrier to development since technical skills are not obtained thus pupils end been less contributive to Africans development (Bach, 2003). This has led to excess production of graduates in fields where less job opportunities are available. The overproduction of graduates and with less employment opportunities has contributed to migration to other countries. There is no accommodating environment for scientists to apply whatever they have covered. Lack of accommodative environment, has also led to migration of scientists to other countries with favorable conditions in terms of higher salaries and advanced technology.
    The most contributing factors for brain drain are the political instability and the poor economic growth. The poor economic growth has been contributed by the structural measures which have been set. The poor rates of economic growth have led to poor living standards. Political instability has been witnessed in Africa causes disturbances to development. The most hit countries by political instability in Africa include Somalia, Zaire, Sierra Leone. There are many professionals who have gone exile to other countries due to security threat. The professionals who have remained in their own countries end up taking participation in fields which are distanced from their profession such as setting up business. This leads to many losses in terms of investments.
    Some nation in Africa and mostly those in Sub Sahara have large numbers of Graduates who are unemployed or who have emigrated in search of higher living standards.  Surprisingly these countries have larges numbers of graduate foreigners who have come to offer technical assistance. Africa has been reported as the continent which gets much advice mostly technical compared to other continents. In conclusion, brain drain is an issue which involves migration of professionals in search of higher living standard, political stability, quality life, higher salaries and advanced technology (Narasimhan, et al, 2004). Home countries end up losing professionals which hinders development and investment. The host countries benefit a lot since they get the required knowledge for development. Brain drain is a problem which brings dilemma in the international community. Developing countries have been highly affected by brain drain due to various reasons such as school curricula, poor economic growth and political instability.