Brain Circulation Status of Türkiye

Authors : Furkan Metin

Pages : 169-182

Doi:10.53478/yuksekogretim.1407019

View : 80 | Download : 525

Publication Date : 2025-04-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :While the concept of “brain drain” remains commonly used to describe the emigration of highly skilled individuals, it falls short of capturing the complex, multidirectional flows of talent in today’s globalized world. To address this limitation, recent research has proposed a broader conceptual framework encompassing not only brain drain, but also reverse brain drain, brain gain, brain waste, brain linkage, and most notably, brain circulation. As such, the current study investigates the brain circulation patterns of highly skilled Turkish citizens by examining variables such as graduation department, host country, and sex. Utilizing microdata from 160,789 tertiary graduates who had been abroad between 2010 and 2022, it was found that 67,366 individuals returned to Türkiye, indicating a brain circulation rate of 41.9%. These findings suggest a significant level of return migration, pointing toward an emerging trend of brain circulation rather than a purely one-directional talent outflow.
Keywords : Beşeri Sermaye Dolaşımı, Beyin Bağları, Beyin Dolaşımı, Tersine Beyin Göçü, Türkiye, Uluslararası İnsan Kaynakları.