Running head: The Definition of Immigration, Emigration, and Brain Drain. 1

The Definition of Immigration, Emigration, and Brain Drain in Terms of being Beneficial and Counter-productive to many first world countries

Author Note

December 11, 2012

The Definition of Immigration, Emigration, Brain Drain. 2

Abstract
Immigration, Emigration, and Brain Drain are three topics that all go hand in hand when it comes having slight similarities and different viewpoints as to whether they are all beneficial to the country they currently reside or if they are a nuisance to many of the native citizens. Immigrants travel far and wide to a new country to start over a new life or simply for economic reasons. Emigration is the act of permanently leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement in general is termed migration. There are many reasons why people might choose to emigrate. Better economic opportunity is a "pull" factor, as is a quest for a better climate. Fears of poverty or of religious or political discrimination are "push" factors. And finally Brain Drain (the technical term being Human capital flight is the massive emigration of a large group of individuals that possess knowledge or technical skills.

The Definition of Immigration, Emigration, Brain Drain. 3

The Definition of Immigration, Emigration, and Brain Drain in Terms of being Beneficial and Counter-productive to many first world countries

In many countries Immigration, Emigration, and Brain Drain tend to confuse a lot of citizens and also give very different views about each of these keywords both positively and negatively depending on which side you’re for. Immigration can be beneficial to a country in economic troubles and improve businesses, although it does make it harder for native citizens to find a job if their competition is an immigrant who has nothing much to lose. Emigration can also be very helpful if you’re economically stable and seek better job opportunities else where but also hurts the citizens’ native country if they were a very productive citizen in technical skills or knowledge, which leads to Brain Drain. Brain Drain is the intellectual human capital in which students/workers are taken advantage of by first world nations or colleges/universities. Although brain drain can be very beneficial to a country that’s luring in students or workers, it’s their home countries that are hurt the most by their migration and even suffer great numbers in population to much powerful nations, which disrupts their own development.

The Definition of Immigration, Emigration, Brain Drain. 4

Definition of Immigration and its Advantages and Disadvantages

“Immigration is the term used to describe the process of a person entering and settling as a permanent resident in another country… The process of international migration has a profound effect on families. Family, economic, and political situations all influence reasons for immigrating. A country’s immigration policies determine who is admitted and its approach to integration of newcomers.” The major advantage is that the country gets new and usually very motivated workers. Depending on the country’s policies, it can get people who are needed for specific kinds of jobs (Australia and Canada both do this more than the US). Getting new workers can really help a country expand its economy, especially if it is a country whose natives are aging. One downside of immigration is that it can dilute a country’s cultural identity. This, for example, is why Japan is strongly opposed to immigration even though it really needs new workers as its population ages and declines rapid. “Too much” immigration can make it so that the immigrants’ culture changes the native culture more than the natives are willing to have happen.

Definition of Emigration and its Advantages and Disadvantages Emigration is the act of permanently leaving one's country or region to settle in another. To be able to do this one must usually be financially great to be able to move to another country or have a great set of skills, technically or linguistic and also possess a great set of knowledge as well. A few great advantages to emigrating is for Financial Stability, “people who emigrate may do so for financial reasons. One reason to emigrate may be to avoid inflation with higher costs, and the country they are leaving may not be providing adequate pay. The economy in the country where the person decides to immigrate to may offer better chances for job advancement, higher pay rates and more employment opportunities. Others may leave their country of origin for financial reasons alone. Often those who find jobs are able to send money back to their families.” (Romualdez). Another is for Educational opportunities as well, for example, “different countries have different educational systems and some may be better than others. A family or individual may find better educational opportunities when they emigrate. Students in all grade levels may be able to attend better schools from elementary to universities. A public school in a third world country, for example, a third world country not offer the same level of education as a public school in developed countries. Better educational opportunities may translate into better work opportunities.” (Romualdez).
The Definition of Brain Drain and its Advantages and Disadvantages

By definition Brain Drain is the emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country. This has been a very touchy and controversial subject as to whether countries like, the United States, for example, take a student or worker from Brazil and use their intellectual or their manpower to our advantage and their country of origin won’t have much to benefit from this transaction. A few advantage to Brain Drain are, “money the emigrants have sent back home has helped in alleviating poverty in their homes,.. (resulting) in less child labor, greater.. schooling, more hours worked in self employment and a higher rate of people starting capital intensive enterprises. The money remittances have also reduced the level and severity of poverty. Moreover, the money migrants sent back are spent more in investments such as education, health and housing, rather than on food and other goods.” (Ponmelil) And finally the disadvantages to Brain Drain are, for example, in “the United States accepts a limited number of legal immigrants each year. Many of the resident visas it issues are for jobs in science and technology that cannot be filled by its own citizenry. By attracting the best and brightest from other countries, the U.S. causes a brain drain from within. Rather than improve the quality of its own math and science programs, it compensates for the lack of an educated populace by importing workers from abroad. Furthermore, it harms foreign countries by taking away smart and talented individuals who could help develop their technological sophistication and economic competitiveness.” (Lawrence)

Conclusion Immigration, Emigration, and Brain Drain are three topics that all go hand in hand when it comes having slight similarities and different viewpoints as to whether they are all beneficial to the country they currently reside or if they are a nuisance to many of the native citizens. They have many advantages to its migrant worker or student but that doesn’t mean trouble or intrusions won’t come their way in the long run.