This paper studies the potential impact of Egyptian highly-skilled migrants (HSMs) residing in the
OECD countries on the development of Egypt, their country of origin. The paper discussed the
following questions: a) is Egyptian highly-skilled migration to OECD countries a case of brain drain?
b) Could it generate brain gain? c) What is the overall potential impact of Egyptian HSMs on the
development of their homeland?
Over the last twenty years, migration flows of HSMs from Egypt have been growing and although the
majority of Egyptian migration is still directed to Gulf countries, data show that HSMs increasingly
prefer OECD countries, in particular the USA and Canada, but Europe as well. Studies on the impact
of highly-skilled migration on the development of sending countries usually orbit around the potential
loss or gain of knowledge (i.e. brain drain vs. brain gain) that their departure implies for the country of
origin.
However, the impact of HSMs also covers other “Migration and Development” areas such as the
transfer and productivity of economic remittances and social remittances as influenced by Amartia
Sen’s concept of development. Moreover, the possibility of a transnational experience due to the
current technologies in the communication and transport sectors puts into discussion the assumption
that the physical return of migrants is a prerequisite for the development of the country of origin. The
distinction between “permanent”, “temporary”, and “return migrant” becomes obsolete.
This paper explores first the main theoretical contributions influencing the analysis of the impact of
HSMs on the development of their country of origin. Second, it analyses the characteristics of HSMs
residing in the OECD countries and their potential impact on their homeland. This paper is based on
secondary sources of data, such as academic literature and statistical analyses, as well as on the
findings of a small survey conducted between March and June 2012, targeting Egyptian HSMs in
OECD countries. The survey provides an overview of Egyptian HSMs in OECD countries and
analyses their contributions to their homeland according to three clusters: brain circulation;
remittances’ transfers and productivity; and the other forms of migrants’ engagement with their
country of origin.
This paper suggests that Egyptian HSMs residing in OECD countries can be better considered a case
of brain gain than of brain drain. Furthermore, their overall impact on the development of their
homeland is potentially quite high and covers human, financial, and social capital. More significantly,
Egyptian HSMs in OECD countries show a high level of engagement with Egypt; they undertake
various transnational activities and do not consider distance to be an obstacle to their further
involvement in Egypt’s affairs.