Determining the existence of brain drain in the Philippines: A comprehensive study across nursing, medical, education and engineering sectors

Brain drain is a phenomenon that is often associated with international migration since literature presupposes the existence of brain drain in countries that have a significant amount of skilled workers leaving for work abroad. However, this study aims to show that international migration does not necessarily mean that brain drain exist and to prove that brain drain is a sectoral phenomenon rather than an overall labor market phenomenon. Adapting methodologies from Pernia [1976] and Becker, Ichino & Peri [2003}, the researchers were able to examine the existence of brain drain in the nursing, medical, education and engineering sectors of the Philippines. Results of the study show that only one of the sectors mentioned suffers from brain drain