Institutional and Organizational Thickness in National Systems of Innovation as Attractors to High Skilled Migration

ABSTRACT This study investigates how institutional and organizational thickness, together with migration policy orientation, are associated with highly skilled migration across countries. Drawing on the system of innovation and push–pull migration frameworks, we construct and test two complementary models: (1) a specification focusing on structural effects alone, and (2) a specification including migration policy as a conditioning factor. Using panel data for nine countries over the period of 2005–2020, we find that stronger institutional and organizational environments are positively associated with highly skilled migration inflows, particularly among the working‐age population. While migration policy orientation is also associated with migration inflows, its relationship appears contingent on the broader structural context. These findings suggest that efforts to attract global talent may benefit from alignment between migration policy and institutional and organizational capacity. The study contributes to the literature by examining migration policy alongside institutional and organizational thickness and by empirically assessing how structural conditions and policy orientation correspond with highly skilled migration flows.