Thailand and brain drain

Brain drain has been the subject of research since the 1960s. This research has been hampered by a lack of accurate data from both source and receiving countries on migration and on the losses and gains to developing economies of skilled migration. However, despite these handicaps, research has been...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Terry Commins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Maejo University 2009-01-01
Series:Maejo International Journal of Science and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mijst.mju.ac.th/vol3/53-59.pdf
_version_ 1828473740506169344
author Terry Commins
author_facet Terry Commins
author_sort Terry Commins
collection DOAJ
description Brain drain has been the subject of research since the 1960s. This research has been hampered by a lack of accurate data from both source and receiving countries on migration and on the losses and gains to developing economies of skilled migration. However, despite these handicaps, research has been able to clearly show that trends are changing and the effect this is having is usually quite different for individual source countries.Thailand, as a developing economy, could be regarded as a source country. Fortunately, Thailand has never ranked highly in terms of brain drain when compared to other states in Asia and while it may not be a significant problem it nonetheless needs to be monitored. Thailand is also somewhat unique in that the migration that has occurred has been almost equally split between secondary and tertiary educated Thais. Thailand also ranks low in terms of tertiary educated population who have migrated when compared to other countries in the region. Globalisation is having a profound effect on the migration of skilled workers. As trade becomes increasingly free, barriers to the movement of services or people are also freed. As the better educated are encouraged to think globally, so too will they be inclined to move globally into the world community.This paper examines Thailand’s position with respect to brain drain, some of the lessons we have learned and some of the steps that are being taken to minimise the impact of the loss of skilled workers, with a particular focus on science and technology. The conclusion is that brain drain should not be viewed as an entirely negative development and that the positive outcomes should be recognised, encouraged and incorporated into policy.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T05:48:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fb18943fc4d249f087736d777cf1c963
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1905-7873
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T05:48:52Z
publishDate 2009-01-01
publisher Maejo University
record_format Article
series Maejo International Journal of Science and Technology
spelling doaj.art-fb18943fc4d249f087736d777cf1c9632022-12-22T01:18:53ZengMaejo UniversityMaejo International Journal of Science and Technology1905-78732009-01-013015359Thailand and brain drainTerry ComminsBrain drain has been the subject of research since the 1960s. This research has been hampered by a lack of accurate data from both source and receiving countries on migration and on the losses and gains to developing economies of skilled migration. However, despite these handicaps, research has been able to clearly show that trends are changing and the effect this is having is usually quite different for individual source countries.Thailand, as a developing economy, could be regarded as a source country. Fortunately, Thailand has never ranked highly in terms of brain drain when compared to other states in Asia and while it may not be a significant problem it nonetheless needs to be monitored. Thailand is also somewhat unique in that the migration that has occurred has been almost equally split between secondary and tertiary educated Thais. Thailand also ranks low in terms of tertiary educated population who have migrated when compared to other countries in the region. Globalisation is having a profound effect on the migration of skilled workers. As trade becomes increasingly free, barriers to the movement of services or people are also freed. As the better educated are encouraged to think globally, so too will they be inclined to move globally into the world community.This paper examines Thailand’s position with respect to brain drain, some of the lessons we have learned and some of the steps that are being taken to minimise the impact of the loss of skilled workers, with a particular focus on science and technology. The conclusion is that brain drain should not be viewed as an entirely negative development and that the positive outcomes should be recognised, encouraged and incorporated into policy.http://www.mijst.mju.ac.th/vol3/53-59.pdfbrain drainbrain gainmigrationmanpower planningscience policy
spellingShingle Terry Commins
Thailand and brain drain
Maejo International Journal of Science and Technology
brain drain
brain gain
migration
manpower planning
science policy
title Thailand and brain drain
title_full Thailand and brain drain
title_fullStr Thailand and brain drain
title_full_unstemmed Thailand and brain drain
title_short Thailand and brain drain
title_sort thailand and brain drain
topic brain drain
brain gain
migration
manpower planning
science policy
url http://www.mijst.mju.ac.th/vol3/53-59.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT terrycommins thailandandbraindrain