Factors influencing the issue of “Brain Drain”. Case of Kazakhstan

Abstract

The study of migration movements is a relevant topic for all countries, and for Kazakhstan, in particular. With widespread globalization and the opening of the Iron Curtain, there has been an outflow of the local population. This thesis provides a detailed background on the migration issue, as well as investigates the causes and factors influencing the outflow of qualified specialists. For the purpose of the study, the method of a questionnaire survey was used. A survey was conducted among some citizens of Kazakhstan, in which 160 people took part, many of whom are employed in the financial and economic, as well as educational sectors. According to the results obtained, it became clear that the main motivations for leaving the country are the push factors of migration. On the contrary, the pull factors of migration, as well as the presence of personal ties and historical linkages in the host country, do not affect the migration decision. The analyzed data of conducted research serve as a snapshot of a current migratory mood which might contribute to the literature in the field as there is considerably less data on Kazakhstan.