2012年-世界发展银行全球_How_Can_Talent_Abroad_Help_Reform_Institutions_at_Home___A_Study_of_Russian_Technological_Diaspora_43页_711kb

Summary of the Document: How Can Talent Abroad Help Reform Institutions at Home: A Study of Russian Technological Diaspora

Core Content

This document explores the potential of the Russian technological diaspora to support domestic innovation and institutional reform. The main hypothesis is that skilled diasporas, particularly in science and technology, can facilitate dynamic and effective interactions between Russian entrepreneurs abroad and their home country, contributing to the development of the Russian private and public sectors.

Main Objectives

The study aims to:

• Understand the extent of diaspora interest in cooperation with Russian partners
• Identify emerging formats of such cooperation
• Analyze factors influencing diaspora engagement
• Develop policy recommendations for the Russian government to enhance international linkages

Key Findings

1. Scope of Russian Skilled Diaspora in OECD Countries

• Ballpark estimates suggest that the number of Russian skilled migrants in the OECD has declined over time, with a notable drop in the US and Germany.
• The total number of Russian emigrants to OECD countries in 2000 was approximately 1.5 million, with 61% in Germany and 19% in the US.
• Annual migration flows between 1996 and 2006 averaged about 85,000, with a significant decline post-2002.
• The US and Germany remain the primary destinations, but the share of Germany has decreased substantially.
• Skilled migrants are defined as those with tertiary education (ISCED 5/6), and their share in the overall migration stock was about 25% in 2000.
• Employment of skilled migrants in the OECD was high, with about 65% employed at the time of the survey.
• New immigrants (those who stayed less than 5 years) made up about 14% of the total, with a higher proportion of skilled individuals (41%) and a strong presence in the US.

2. Cross-Country Perspective

• The global migration system shows that Russia is more a destination for migrants from other FSU countries and some Asian nations than a source of its own skilled labor.
• Russia's brain drain is relatively low compared to other countries in the region, with only 1.3% of tertiary-educated citizens emigrating.
• The US is the largest recipient of Russian skilled migrants, with 40.3% of all Russian skilled migrants in the OECD.
• The US labor market is highly attractive to high-skilled individuals, as evidenced by the Brain Drain Index (Russia ranked 60th) and the Foreign Labor Index (Russia ranked 28th).

3. Survey and Interview Insights

• The survey highlights the involvement of Russian emigrant professionals in international knowledge networks.
• Linkages with domestic institutions are present but vary by country and professional group.
• Relations with the government are limited, though some respondents express willingness to assist or return.
• Benchmarking shows that Russia's response to diaspora engagement is less developed compared to other countries.
• Optimism among respondents about the potential for cooperation is moderate, with only a minority believing in a receptive domestic segment.

4. Policy Recommendations

• The document suggests several policy interventions to enhance diaspora engagement, including:
  • Supporting international linkages of Russian firms
  • Improving institutional quality in the home country
  • Creating incentives for diaspora members to collaborate or return
  • Encouraging participation in international networks and business ventures

Key Tables and Figures

Table 1: Annual inflows of Russian migrants to OECD countries (1996-2006)

• Germany and the US were the main destinations, with a significant decline in migration to Germany after 2002
• Total OECD inflows peaked in 2002 and dropped to 75.57K in 2006

Table 2: Structure of the Russian immigration stock in 2000

• 1.5 million immigrants from Russia
• 61% in Germany, 19% in the US
• 65% of migrants were in working age (25-64)
• 25% were highly skilled (ISCED 5/6)
• 65% of skilled migrants were employed

Table 3: Annual flows of Russian citizens working abroad (2000-2008)

• Total labor migrants increased from 45.8K to 73.1K
• Migration to the US increased significantly
• A large share of migrants (68.8%) stayed abroad for less than 6 months

Table 4: Brain Drain and Foreign Labor Indices

• Russia ranked 60th in the Brain Drain Index, indicating a relatively low brain drain
• Russia ranked 28th in the Foreign Labor Index, showing it is attractive to high-skilled foreigners

Table 5: PhD recipients in the US by country of origin

• Russia had 1,364 PhD recipients in 2008, with an 80.5% intention to stay in the US
• Stay rates for Russian PhDs are high compared to other countries, though not as high as China or India

Table 12: Degree of optimism among respondents

• Only a minority (about 35%) believed in a receptive domestic segment for cooperation
• A smaller share expressed confidence in the government's ability to support cooperation

Table 13: Strength of linkages to the home country by professional group

• Engineers and scientists had stronger linkages to Russia
• Business professionals showed more interest in returning or collaborating

Table 14 and 15: Contact and assistance intentions by country and network membership

• Stronger linkages were observed among those who had business contacts with the Russian government
• Higher optimism was associated with those who had frequent visits or membership in international networks

Conclusion

The study highlights the potential of the Russian technological diaspora to contribute to domestic innovation and institutional reform, but also identifies barriers to effective engagement. While the brain drain is often perceived as a crisis, the data suggests otherwise, with Russia being relatively attractive to foreign high-skilled workers. The main challenge lies in enhancing the institutional environment and creating incentives to encourage diaspora participation in Russia's innovation ecosystem. The recommendations emphasize the need for policy support, international networking, and improved domestic conditions to realize this potential.