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Recurring debates about the impact of the brain drain— the developing world's loss of human capital to more developed countries—has motivated estimation of the magnitude of the phenomenon, most recently by the World Bank. Although frequently cited as a key contributor to Africa's wanting development record, what constitutes the "brain-drain" is not always clearly defined. Today, in the absence of an accounting system, resolution of the definitional and measurement question depends on relative comparisons of measurement variants, which will identify definitional shortcomings by clarifying the merits and demerits of these variants, and thereby suggest corrective imputations. This paper compares the World Bank's approach to a chronological precedent (Dodoo 1997) to clarify the value of variant comparisons. The resultant implications for corrections are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops an original proposition for debate in the fields of African studies, transnationalism, environmental studies, and technology studies. Essentially, the paper posits that, for a few key reasons, Sub-Saharan Africa will not likely have an opportunity to experience industrialization with the reigning "destructo-industrial" technologies pioneered by Europeans and Americans. An industrial experience appears achievable for Sub-Saharan Africans only in the context of a new ecological economy. Not only are there no unassailable national frontrunners in this future area, but Sub-Saharan Africans have a credible opportunity of being among the leaders in the future. The process would commence with "brain circulation," the movement of Africans into rich, technologically advanced countries to have their human, economic, and social capital enhanced, some of which to be reinvested in their respective homelands, particularly in ecological industrial areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the current recession in industrialized countries and the resultant dim prospects for exports from small Pacific island countries, mobilization of foreign exchange earnings assumes considerable importance. The dependency of Samoa and Tonga on inward remittances is well known, as the two Polynesian island countries in recent years have been among the first top ten remittance recipient countries of the world. This paper examines the long-run nexus between economic growth and inward remittances during a three-decade period (1981-2008). The paper also discusses some important policy implications arising out of the study's findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper (1) examines whether there is a bilateral relationship between HIV/AIDS and economic development; (2) estimates the impact of HIV/AIDS on economic development; and (3) identifies some of the factors affecting the spread of HIV/AIDS. Analyses are based on data from 39 sub-Saharan African countries for the period 1989-1998. HIV/AIDS negatively impacted economic development, with no evidence of a reciprocal relation. Expenditures on health and education as well as political freedom had positive impacts on development, but negative impacts on HIV/AIDS incidence. Expenditures on female education impacted development and HIV/AIDS incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the ideas of the knowledge society and knowledge-based economy originate from the 1960s and 1970s, they became popular as a policy idea especially at the end of the twentieth century. Developed and less developed countries alike portray the path towards the knowledge society as the way forward, bringing economic prosperity and social advancement. In adapting to this move towards knowledge societies, universities apply specific organizational forms that have gradually evolved into global models. This spread of globalized models shows an inherent tendency towards processes of convergence, isomorphism, or homogenization. On the surface, a convergence of higher education and science policies seems to have occurred in the past decade or so. A closer look at organizational practices, however, might reveal more local variation in the adoption of these global university models for the knowledge society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]