Journals / Research in Educational Administration and Leadership / 2026 / Volume: 8 Issue: 2

Brain Drain from Türkiye: Register Evidence of Non‐Returning Graduates

Furkan Metin(Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu)0000-0001-5782-6581
Pages
—
Publication Date
2023-06-29
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results indicate that brain drain rate of bachelor’s degree graduates is 3.23 per cent in the year 2020.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Globalisation of labour has led to the migration of skilled workforce; known as ‘brain drain’.
📊
Key Findings & Data:These public institutions including Ministry of Interior, Directorate-General for Population and Citizenship Affairs for residence abroad data, and Council of Higher Education of Türkiye (CoHE) for higher education data.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The results indicate that brain drain rate of bachelor’s degree graduates is 3.23 per cent in the year 2020.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2020 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Brain drain · higher education · skilled human resources

Abstract

Globalisation of labour has led to the migration of skilled workforce; known as ‘brain drain’. To our knowledge, this paper is the first study which analyses brain drain from Türkiye through administrative register evidence of non-return bachelors’ degree graduates. The analysis micro dataset in the paper is based completely upon administrative registers of public institutions of Republic of Türkiye. These public institutions including Ministry of Interior, Directorate-General for Population and Citizenship Affairs for residence abroad data, and Council of Higher Education of Türkiye (CoHE) for higher education data. The results were analysed through descriptive statistics. The results indicate that brain drain rate of bachelor’s degree graduates is 3.23 per cent in the year 2020. The rate is calculated through considering 55,918 non-return graduates out of total number of 1,730,955 graduates. The most popular destinations to brain drain from Türkiye are the United States of America with 22.4 per cent, Germany with 14.3 per cent and the United Kingdom with 11.6 per cent. When it comes to gender distribution, brain drain rate of males is 3.62 per cent and it is 2.84 per cent for females. The results indicated that brain drain rate of bachelor’s degree graduates increased more than 50% between the years 2011 and 2020. Therefore, future research is need to investigate the reason behind the high increase rates in brain drain from Türkiye. Residence abroad data used in this paper is based on the statements of Turkish bachelor’s degree graduates reside abroad. Therefore, the actual number may even be higher than the figures here.

🔖

Cite This Article

Metin, F. (2023). Brain Drain from Türkiye: Register Evidence of Non‐Returning Graduates. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, Volume: 8 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1149770

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (41)

  1. Aksoy, Z. (2012). Uluslararası Göç ve Kültürlerarası İletişim [International Migration and Intercultural Communicaton]. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 5(20), 292-303.
  2. Atılgan, D. (1986). Beyin Göçü [Brain Drain]. Türk Kütüphaneciliği, 35(3), 27-36.
  3. Atmaca, T. (2020). An Examination of Academically Successful Secondary School Students’ Aspirations with Regard to Potential Human Capital Flight (Brain Drain). International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 7(1), 280-299. doi:10.33200/ijcer.708765
  4. Aytaç, S., & Aydın, G. (2019). Analysis of the Effects of Pull and Push Factors on Brain Drain: An Example of Turkey. Journal of Social Economics Research, 6(2), 74-84. doi:10.18488/journal.35.2019.62.74.84
  5. Bailey, A., & Mulder, C. (2017). Highly Skilled Migration Between the Global North and South: Gender, Life Courses and Institutions. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 43(16), 2689-2703. doi:10.1080/1369183X.2017.1314594
  6. Bakırtaş, T., & Kandemir, O. (2010). Gelişmekte Olan Ülkeler ve Beyin Göçü: Türkiye Örneği [Developing Countries and Brain Drain: Turkish Example]. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 18(3), 961-974.
  7. Baruch, Y., Budhwar, P., & Khatri, N. (2007). Brain Drain: Inclination to Stay Abroad After Studies. Journal of World Business, 42(1), 99-112. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2006.11.004
  8. Başaran, F. (1972). Türkiye’de Beyin Göçü Sorunu [Brain Drain Problem in Turkey]. Araştırma, s. 133-153.
  9. Beine, M., Docquier, F., & Rapoport, H. (2001). Brain Drain and Economic Growth: Theory and Evidence. Journal of Development Economics, 64(1), 275-289. doi:doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3878(00)00133-4
  10. Beine, M., Docquier, F., & Rapoport, H. (2008). Brain Drain and Human Capital Formation in Developing Countries: Winners and Losers. The Economic Journal, 118, s. 631-652. doi:doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2008.02135.x
  11. Docquier, F., & Rapoport, H. (2004). Skilled Migration: The Perspective of Developing Countries. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No.3382. doi:doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-3382
  12. Docquier, F., Lohest, O., & Marfouk, A. (2007). Brain Drain in Developing Countries. The World Bank Economic Review, 21(2), 193-218. doi:doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhm008
  13. Erkal, M. E. (1980). Beyin Göçü [Brain Drain]. Sosyoloji Konferansları Dergisi(18), s. 73-80.
  14. Eurostat. (2021). Glossary: International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Retrieved from Statistics Explained: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Glossary:International_standard_classification_of_education_(ISCED)
  15. Gibson, J., & McKenzie, D. (2011). Eight Questions about Brain Drain. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(3), 107-128. doi:doi.org/10.1257/jep.25.3.107
  16. Gökbayrak, Ş. (2008). Uluslararası Göç ve Kalkınma Tartışmaları: Beyin Göçü Üzerine Bir İnceleme [Discussions on International Migration and Development: A Research on Brain Drain]. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, 63(3), 65-82. doi:doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000002073
  17. Gülmez, M. (1974). Beyin İhracına Dönüşen Beyin Göçü [Brain Drain Turning into Brain Export]. Amme İdaresi Dergisi, 7(1), s. 62-79.
  18. Güngör, N., & Tansel, A. (2007). Brain Drain from Turkey: The Case of Professionals Abroad. Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Papers No. 2617, 1-48.
  19. Haque, N. U., & Kim, S.-J. (1995). "Human Capital Flight”: Impact of Migration on Income and Growth. IMF Staff Papers, 42(3), s. 577-607. doi:doi.org/10.2307/3867533
  20. İnce, C. (2020). From Brain Drain to Brain Circulation: Brain Power in Regional Development. International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences, 11(42), 1092-1114.
  21. İyi, M. M. (2020). Türkiye'nin Nitelikli İş Gücü Kaybı: Almanya'nın Yeni Göç Yasası [Skilled Labour Force Loss of Turkey: Germany's New Migration Law]. GAV Analiz(4), 1-13.
  22. Kahanec, M., & Králiková, R. (2011). Pulls of International Student Mobility. Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Papers No. 6233, 1-16.
  23. Kaya, E. (2019). Türkiye’de Gençlerin Göç Eğilimini Etkileyen Unsurlar Üzerine Bir Alan Araştırması [A Field Study on the Factors Affecting Youth Migration Tendency in Turkey]. Sosyal, Beşeri ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 2(9), 657–676. doi:doi.org/10.26677/TR1010.2019.209
  24. Köser-Akçapar, Ş. (2006). Do Brains Really Going Down the Drain?: Highly Skilled Turkish Migrants in the USA and the "Brain Drain" Debate in Turkey. Revue Européenne Des Migrations Internationales, 22(3), 79-107. doi:doi.org/10.4000/remi.3281
  25. Latukha, M., Shagalkina, M., Mitskevich, E., & Strogetskaya, E. (2021). From Brain Drain to Brain Gain: The Agenda for Talent Management in Overcoming Talent Migration from Emerging Markets. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 32, pp. 1-30. doi:doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2021.1949374
  26. Lee, E. S. (1966). A Theory of Migration. Demography(3), 47-57. doi:doi.org/10.2307/2060063
  27. Martiskova, M. (2013). What Are The Main Reasons for Young Greeks to Emigrate. Enschede: Unpublished Master Thesis, University of Twente School of Management and Governance.
  28. OECD. (1996). The Knowledge-Based Economy. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
  29. OECD. (2017). OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Defiinitions and Classifications. OECD Publishing.
  30. OECD, European Union, UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2015). ISCED 2011 Operational Manual: Guidelines for Classifying National Education Programmes and Related Qualifications. OECD Publishing.
  31. Portnoi, L., Rust, V., & Bagley, S. (2010). Higher Education, Policy, and the Global Competition Phenomenon. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. doi:doi.org/10.1057/9780230106130
  32. Rüzgar, M. (2020). Dönmek veya Dönmemek, İşte Bütün Mesele Bu [To Return or Not to Return, That is the Question]. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, 8(4), 1080-1115. doi:10.14689/issn.2148-2624.8c.4s.2m
  33. Sağırlı, M. (2006). Eğitim ve İnsan Kaynağı Yönünden Türk Beyin Göçü: Geri Dönen Türk Akademisyenler Üzerine Alan Araştırması [Turkish Brain Drain in Terms of Education and Human Resources: A Field Study on Returning Turkish Academics]. İstanbul: Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, İstanbul University Institute of Social Sciences.
  34. Tanrısevdi, F., Durdu, İ., & Tanrısevdi, A. (2019). Beyin Göçü Mü, Beyin Gücü Mü? [Brain Drain or Brain Power?]. Journal of Travel and Tourism Research, 15, 133-158.
  35. Tansel, A., & Güngör, N. D. (2003). "Brain Drain" from Turkey: Survey Evidence of Student Non‐Return. Career Development International, 8(2), 52-69. doi:doi.org/10.1108/13620430310465453
  36. Tezcan, M. (1971). Beyin Göçü ve Türkiye [Brain Drain and Turkey]. Amme İdaresi Dergisi, 4(3), s. 44-71.
  37. The World Bank. (2019). World Development Report 2019: The Changing Nature of Work. Washington, DC: World Bank.
  38. The World Bank. (2021). Research and Development Expenditure. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?most_recent_value_desc=true
  39. TurkStat. (2021). Education Expenditure Statistics. Retrieved from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Kategori/GetKategori?p=egitim-kultur-spor-ve-turizm-105&dil=2
  40. TurkStat. (2021). Social Protection Statistics. Retrieved from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Kategori/GetKategori?p=saglik-ve-sosyal-koruma-101&dil=2
  41. Yılmaz, E. (2020). Uluslararası Beyin Göçü Hareketleri Bağlamında Türkiye’deki Beyin Göçünün Durumu [The Situation of Brain Drain in Turkey within the Context of International Brain Drain Movements]. LAÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 10(2), 220-232.