Uzbekistan new indd

Brain drain or Brain gain
There is an ongoing debate in the literature on the 
consequences of highly skilled emigration on the 
country of origin. There are two schools of thought. 
One highlights the negative consequences also known 
as “brain drain” The other emphasizes the possible 
positive outcomes and “brain gain.”
29
 When exam-
ining the consequences of highly skilled emigration 
five main factors have to be taken into consideration. 
These factors include: (1) remittances; (2) diaspora 
networks; (3) investments; (4) return migration; and 
(5) occupational shortages.
30
Remittances
Many experts argue that the negative effects of em-
igration may be offset by remittances sent by mi-
grants.
31
 According to a UNDP report
32
 in many 
developing countries remittances exceed the level of 
direct foreign assistance and positively influence eco-
nomic development. Indeed, remittances are a direct 
source of foreign exchange. They provide investment 
funds and contribute to GDP growth. They also al-
low for increased consumption as they are received 
directly by households.
33
 It is generally believed that 
the more qualified migrants will remit more as they 
are expected to earn more.
However, my study reveals that the extent of 
remittances coming from highly skilled migrants 
from Uzbekistan is quite insignificant. While these 
findings cannot be generalized due to the small sam-
ple size and the qualitative nature of the present re-
search, this finding might call into question some of 
the conventional wisdom and theories with regard 
to remittances. My respondents, when asked if they 
send money to support their families or relatives in 
Uzbekistan, explained: “I have a big family and many 
siblings who take care of my parents. All of them are 
in Uzbekistan, so there is no pressure on me to send 
money to Uzbekistan.”
28 F. Docquier and H. Rapoport, “Documenting the Brain Drain of “La Crème de la Crème”: Three Case-Studies on International Migration at the 
Upper Tail of the Education,” IRES Discussion Papers No. 2009031. Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales, Université Catholique de 
Louvain, 2009.
29 Spadavecchia, “Migration of Women from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe.” 
30 During the course of my primary data collection no significant gender differences were displayed with respect to those factors. Hence, the findings 
presented below are not gender disaggregated.
31 Spadavecchia, “Migration of Women from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe.” 
32 “Human Development Report 2009: Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development,” UNDP, New York, 2009.
33 Beneria, Deere, and Kabeer, “Gender and International Migration.” 

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Emigration of “Crème de la Crème “ in Uzbekistan. A Gender Perspective
57
Most respondents expressed similar opinions. 
They explained that they would send money back 
home if there is an emergency or a special need in 
their family. But their remittances do not have a sys-
tematic character and are rather ad-hoc. The reason 
why the higher skilled migrants remit less than the 
lower skilled ones may be because highly qualified 
Uzbek emigrants come from families with higher 
social status. Unlike labor emigrants, they are driv-
en to immigrate for reasons other than the desire to 
financially help their families left in Uzbekistan
34
 in 
relying on statistically significant econometric analy-
ses across 82 countries, found that the growth in the 
share of highly skilled migrants negatively influences 
total and per capita remittances. In sum, it seems that 
the negative consequences of highly skilled emigra-
tion cannot be offset by the fact that qualified emi-
grants remit more than labor emigrants.
Diaspora Networks
There is a widely held view that emigrants positively 
influence their home countries through diaspora net-
works that generate flows of goods, capital and ideas. 
Emigrant diasporas abroad strengthen investment 
linkages, technology transfers and knowledge circu-
lation, thus fostering productivity growth in sending 
countries.
35
 
Uzbek diasporas abroad are relatively young 
since the history of Uzbek emigration started only 
in the beginning of the 1990s and intensified in the 
2000s. My research revealed that most of the highly 
qualified respondents from Uzbekistan do not be-
long to any formal or informal Uzbek communities, 
networks or organizations in their new countries of 
residence. Many of them do not even communicate 
with other fellow Uzbeks. This disconnect from fel-
low Uzbeks can be explained by the fact that highly 
qualified people are capable to integrate well into new 
societies, they speak foreign languages, hold good 
positions and easily make friends with citizens of the 
host population and hence they do not feel a strong 
need to connect with a “home” community.
There even seems to be a tendency not to look 
for contacts with other Uzbeks abroad and distance 
themselves from fellow Uzbeks. For instance, one 
female respondent explains: “At this moment, I have 
little contacts with Uzbeks... When I was a student, I 
met some fellow Uzbek students almost every day. They 
were from different regions of Uzbekistan and had a 
different mentality; they were thinking differently and 
it was a culture shock for me. Sometimes, you do not 
want to communicate with fellow Uzbeks.” Another 
woman elaborates about the reasons why she keeps 
her distance with other Uzbeks abroad: “I try to keep 
distance. I have burned my fingers already ...When 
you meet people from your country there is a tendency 
of exaggerated familiarity. Sometimes there are judg-
ments and controlling aspects, especially from the side 
of men from Uzbekistan, and it wasn’t pleasant. Even 
my brothers and my father didn’t have this tendency 
to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong and how I 
should behave.” Male respondents have the same at-
titude towards fellow Uzbeks: “I am not looking for 
them (Uzbeks) specifically. I do not see a need to look 
for fellow Uzbeks and communicate with them.”
When probed about communities, networks or 
organizations uniting Uzbeks abroad, many respon-
dents were not even aware of their existence: I nev-
er heard that someone unites Uzbeks,” “No, no, I have 
not heard about networks or organizations.” “I do not 
know, to be honest, I do not have many contacts, only 
a few close friends.” “I don’t know, I’ve never looked for 
them. Maybe there are some.” At the same time many 
respondents mentioned different social initiatives 
and activities they heard about or took part in. These 
initiatives can be described as purely social gather-
ings to celebrate traditional holidays such as Navruz
36
 
or Eid
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: “On Navruz and Eid we gather to make plov. 
But it happens from time to time, not often.”
The embassies of Uzbekistan play a role in unit-
ing Uzbek communities abroad. Several respondents 
mentioned that the only Uzbek events they attend 
are organized by the embassies. To quote one female