La Germania tra fuga e ricerca di cervelli

The migration of skilled individuals – or brain drain – is often considered a negative phenomenon for the economy of the country left behind. Only in the recent past theorists have started to analyze spillovers of the brain drain in the left economy and defined models of long-distance cooperation amongst scientists. Complexity theory has been brought into the analysis of the brain drain and into the building of international scientific networks which are aimed at reducing its negative impact. While scholarly research is moving on, policy-makers are lagging behind; Europe needs ideas and interventions to reduce the drain and to exploit the knowledge and experience of those European scientists working overseas. This article is a survey of empirical work conducted in Germany on the international mobility of highly qualified workers, researchers and scientists. The essay examines the reasons that have determined the departure of German scientists and researchers, the reasons for staying over beyond the accomplishment of post-doctoral qualification and the nature of brain drain and brain gain of highly qualified workers that is currently affecting German society