Title: Brain gain (drain), immigration and global network: Nepalese students in the UK

Authors: Keshab Bhattarai

Addresses: Business School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, England, HU6 7RX, UK

Abstract: Nepalese students in UK are struggling to balance tuition and other expenses in the short-run and for the gainful employment in the long run. The opportunity cost of emigration in a labour surplus economy of Nepal is very little in comparison to benefits from increased flow of remittances, transfer of knowledge, ideas and technologies. Net emigration results in brain gain rather than brain drain to Nepal and benefits in terms of output, employment and the stability in wages and inflation to the UK. Both governments, NPCCUK and NRNA can make this process more efficient by developing right mechanism and policies.

Keywords: student finances; migration; Nepal United Kingdom; immigration; global networks; Nepalese students; tuition fees; universities; higher education; gainful employment; opportunity costs; emigration; labour surpluses; remittances; brain drains; knowledge transfer; ideas; technologies; economic benefits; wages; wage stability; inflation; central government; Nepalese People’s Coordination Council for UK; Non-Resident Nepali Association; NPCCUK; NRNA; Hull; economic policies; emerging economies; international development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2011.043309

International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 2011 Vol.4 No.4, pp.345 - 365

Published online: 11 Jan 2015 *

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