In the late 20^th century, the metaphor of “brain drain” dominated the understanding of skilled labor mobility at a global level. Indebted to methodological nationalism, the metaphor of “brain drain” framed the analysis as if nation-states were the primary, sometime the single, unit of concern: the focus was on how countries are affected by highly-skilled migration, what policies they should adopt, and what obligations do individuals owe to the countries.

Argument

In the late 20^th century, the metaphor of “brain drain” dominated the understanding of skilled labor mobility at a global level. Indebted to methodological nationalism, the metaphor of “brain drain” framed the analysis as if nation-states were the primary, sometime the single, unit of concern: the focus was on how countries are affected by highly-skilled migration, what policies they should adopt, and what obligations do individuals owe to the countries.

This conference builds on the recent critique of methodologically nationalist assumptions in the social sciences. Its aim is to reframe the analysis of skills and labor mobility without the assumptions suggested by the “brain drain” metaphor.

Conveners

• Speranta Dumitru (Paris 5),
• Stéphane Chauvier (Paris 4),
• Caroline Caplan (Paris 5)

Programme

Salle des Thèses 5^e étage Bât. Jacob

Thursday 26^th : Mobility

Introduction : Chair: Stéphane Chauvier (P4)

• 9.15 – 9.30 : Speranta Dumitru (Paris 5) Welcome
• 9.30 – 10.15 : Alex Sager (Portland) The Critique of Methodological Nationalism and “Brain Drain”

Coffee Break

Neither utility, nor rights?

Chair: Caroline Caplan (P5)

• 10.30 – 11.30 : Antoine Pécoud (Paris 13) Brain Drain and the free movement of people 
• 11.30 – 12.15 : Adina Preda (Limerick) Some reflections about the rights and freedoms to migrate

LUNCH

The states’ perspective

chair: Camille Schmoll (P7)

• 14.30- 15.15 : Lucie Cerna (Compas Oxford) The policy implications of the war on talent
• 15.15 – 16.00 : Oliviero Angeli (Dresden) Taxing the entrants to protect the stayers? On the prospective responsibility of skilled migrants

Break

A plea for change

Chair Hélène Thiollet (CERI)

• 16.15 – 17.15 : Michael Clemens (CGD, Washington): Losing our minds? A fresh Start in considering policy toward skilled emigration
• 17.15 – 17.45 : General discussion

Friday 27^th  Skills

Whose skills, which serfdom?

Chair: Shirin Shahrokni (INED)

9.30- 10.15 : Valeria Ottonelli (Genova): The "global drain" of domestic care work: what's wrong with it?

Coffee Break

• 10.30 – 11.30 : Bernardo Bolanos & Camelia Tigau (Mexico): Diasporas and colonialism. The geopolitical dimension of skilled migratione
• 11.30 – 12.15 : Christine Straehle (Ottawa): Are they my Skilled? Anti-emigration measures from a liberal perspectiv

Lunch

Cosmopolitan Views

Chair: Stéphane Dufoix (paris Ouest)

• 14.00- 14.45 : Phillip Cole (U West of England): Labor mobility: towards a cosmopolitan ethic
• 14.45 - 15.30 : Jean-Baptiste Meyer (Montpellier): Brain drain and the cosmopolis: conflicting views… or may be not

Break

Redefining skills

• 16.00 – 17.00 : Parvati Raghuram (Open University) Dis/locating skills
• 17.00 – 17.30 : General discussion