The innovation exodus: how Türkiye’s brain drain challenges technological progress

<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly educated individuals to other countries in pursuit of better professional, academic, or economic opportunities. This phenomenon differs from human capital, which denotes the proportion of university graduates within the total domestic population and reflects the overall skill level and innovation potential of the resident workforce. This study examines the long-run effects of brain drain on technological advancement in Türkiye, using annual data from 1990 to 2022. By employing Fourier ADL and RALS Fourier ADL cointegration techniques, the study provides robust empirical evidence on the adverse impact of brain drain on Türkiye’s innovation ecosystem. The results indicate that brain drain significantly impedes technological progress by depleting the domestic talent pool, thereby weakening research and development (R&amp;D) capacity. Specifically, the negative and statistically significant effects of R&amp;D expenditures and total patent applications – two key indicators of technological innovation – on brain drain are confirmed. Conversely, economic growth, human capital accumulation, and trade openness positively contribute to technological advancement, suggesting that Türkiye’s integration into global markets may partially offset the negative consequences of talent migration. Potential policy measures include incentivizing the return migration of skilled professionals, strengthening research institutions, and fostering collaborations between the diaspora and domestic enterprises.</span>