The question of whether brain gain/drain is a bad thing is a debate that in itself can never really be solved. What we can do is to better understand how we can manage to benefit our country and economy by realizing the possibilities of what stands to be gained/lost. To expand on these ideas I've laid out what in my view are the pertinent points and the ones that certainly pique the interest of most debaters of the topic. Human pathology tells us that we are independent of choice and may act in unpredictable ways, thus making ever person their own traveller. For most, according to several studies, the outflow of human resources is merely to gain experience that may not be accessible here, and then return to their homeland in an attempt to reap the benefits.
We need to look beyond the mere fact that we are losing people to foreign countries, we need to look at whom? This however is very dependent on the key factors of age, social standing and their profession at present, or to be. Young students are those we should really be most concerned about. They are the foundations of any country and where they are most comfortable will not only determine where they live but also how productive they are. They are the essential elements that will move the country and further its acceptance as a global power to be reckoned with. However what South Africa lacks is the close link between graduate students and the industry at large. Most first world countries have a far superior "close" relationship between graduates and the working economy. The ability to show someone what the future may hold for them is irreplaceable, as it shows them what is potentially on offer. This creates a cloak of security, which may signal job stability and lifestyle predictability. As we know people are far more at ease when things are more certain and can be planned for. We unfortunately as a developing country still have yet to find this balance.
