Abstract
Many researchers trained in Europe leave to work abroad, particularly in the USA. This brain drain phenomenon is the result of a lack of openness and competition in European academic systems. Some changes relating to the mobility of academic careers could make a difference in attracting – and maintaining – researchers, apart from serious structural reform. Performance-related salary policies, as well as proper working conditions, are key incentives to attract researchers. To some extent, efficient post-doctoral programmes and gender-equity policies should be considered too.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Auriol, L. (2007) ‘Labour market characteristics and international mobility of doctorates’, STI Working Paper 2007/2, Paris: OECD, http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/17/57/38055153.pdf.
European Commission. (2007a) ‘The European research area: New perspectives’, Green Paper, COM(2007) 161 final, http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/pdf/era_gp_final_en.pdf.
European Commission. (2007b) Remuneration of Researchers in the Public and Private Sectors, Luxembourg: Publication office, http://ec.europa.eu/eracareers/pdf/final_report.pdf.
European University/Business Forum. (2008) ‘Conclusions and perspectives for the future’, Brussels, 28 and 29 February, http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/educ/business/forum/buck_en.pdf, visited 13 March 2009.
European Voice. (2004) ‘The EU's alarmist “brain drain” numbers simply don’t add up’, 18–24 November.
EUROSTAT. (2007) Doctorate Holders. The Beginning of Their Career, Vol. 131/2007, Luxembourg: Publication office, http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-07-131/EN/KS-SF-07-131-EN.PDF.
Gagliarducci, S., Ichino, A., Peri, G. and Perotti, R. (2005) ‘Lo Splendido Isolamento dell’ Universita’ Italiana’, Working Paper, Milano: Fondazione Rodolfo De Benedetti, http://www.igier.uni-bocconi.it/perotti.
Gruenberg, L. (2001) Good Practice in Promoting Gender Equity in Higher Education in Central and Eastern Europe, Bucharest: UNESCO-CEPES.
Marimon, R. (2007) ‘Competition, innovation and growth’, BEPA Policy Advisers Conference, Brussels, 4 December.
Marimon, R. and de Graça Carvalho, M. (2008) ‘An open, integrated and competitive European research area’, Knowledge Economists Policy Brief, N°3, April 2008, http://ec.europa.eu/invest-in-research/monitoring/knowledge_en.htm.
Max Weber Programme Academic Careers Observatory. (2008) ‘Towards an open and competitive European Area for Research Careers: some basic findings from the Max Weber Programme Academic Careers Observatory’, Report 2008, San Domenico di Fiesole, http://www.eui.eu/MaxWeberProgramme/AcademicCareers/ACOdocument2008.pdf.
Miriou, M. (2003) Guidelines for Promoting Gender Equity in Higher Education in Central and Eastern Europe, Bucharest: UNESCO-CEPES.
National Science Board. (2008) Science and Engineering Indicators 2008, Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind08/append/c2/at02-40.pdf.
OECD. (2007) ‘On the edge: Securing a sustainable future for higher education’, OECD Education Working Papers 7, OECD Directorate for Education, available at http://ideas.repec.org/p/oec/eduaab/7-en.html#download.
Pleschová, G. and Simon, E. (2008) ‘Teaching experience and teacher-training needs of young political scientists in Europe’, Paper presented at the annual meeting of the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, San Jose Marriott, San Jose, California, 22 February, www.allacademic.com/meta/p245583_index.html.
Quintin, O. (2006) ‘Speech at the start of the European University Institute's post-doctoral training programme in the social sciences’, Max Weber Programme, 4 October, www.eui.eu/PUB/Quintin4Oct2006.pdf.
UNESCO-CEPES. (2004) ‘Brain drain and the academic and intellectual labour market in South-East Europe’, Higher Education in Europe 29 (3): 1–30.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grigolo, M., Lietaert, M. & Marimon, R. Shifting from Academic ‘Brain Drain’ to ‘Brain Gain’ in Europe. Eur Polit Sci 9, 118–130 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1057/eps.2009.42
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/eps.2009.42