Stepping Out of the Brain Drain is an important contribution to the intensifying debate about highly skilled migration from developing to developed countries. Addressing the issue from the perspective of Catholic social thought, the authors demonstrate that both the economic and ethical rationales for the teaching's opposition to 'brain drain' have been undermined in recent years and show how the adoption of a less critical policy could provide enhanced opportunities for poor countries to accelerate their economic development.
Michele R. Pistone is professor of law and director of the clinical program at Villanova University. John J. Hoeffner is an attorney and a former editor-in-chief of The Catholic Lawyer. They maintain a website on skilled migration at www.stepoutmigration.com.
Table of Contents
Part 1 Definitions: The Scope of This Book, STEP OUT Migration: A New Term for Brain Drain, Catholic Social TeachingPart 2 Catholic Social Thought and Immigration: The Openness of the Tradition and the Exception, Foundational Principles, Applying Human Dignity and the Common Good to ImmigrationPart 3 Events and Understandings Influencing the Formation of the Church's STEP OUT Migration Policy: Political Developments, Developments in the ChurchPart 4 The Case for STEP OUT Migration: An Overview, A History of Accentuating the Negative, The Importance of Modern Technology and GlobalizationPart 5 The Contributions of STEP OUT Migrants: International Knowledge Transfers, Monetary Transfers, Technology Development and TransferPart 6 The Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II and Their Implications: Work in Catholic Social Thought, Human Dignity and STEP OUT MigrationPart 7 Next Steps: Recommendations, ConclusionPart 8 Appendix A: Catholic Social Teaching and Political DiscoursePart 9 Appendix B: A Short History of the American Catholic Church's Programmatic Support for Immigrant Communities
"This splendid book provides an insightful, dispassionate, informed and comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of 'brain drain' by two prominent scholars with both a social conscience and a cool head. Every policymaker and scholar interested in this important phenomenon, and in its policy implications, must be required to read it."--(Jagdish Bhagwati, University Professor, Economics and Law, Columbia University)
Michael Novak
"An original, bracing, and controversial re-thinking of the 'brain drain.' A good test for those who think they know everything about immigration."--(Michael Novak, George Frederick Jewett Scholar in Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute)
Kathleen Newland
"This impressively researched and compassionate book makes the case that today's migrants can often do more to fulfill their obligations to help their families and home communities as migrants-through remittances, investment, and know-how-than if they remained at home. It raises important questions not only for Catholics, but for anyone who is concerned about the ethical implications of migration policies."--(Kathleen Newland, Director, Migration Policy Institute)
Donald Kerwin
"This is a ground-breaking book, and should be read by everybody who cares about the interplay between migration and development. Pistone and Hoeffner detail the contributions that skilled workers make to economic development and poverty reduction in their nations of origin. In an era characterized by globalization, they see the mobility of skilled migrants as a 'gain' for both sending and receiving nations, a gain that very directly addresses the root causes of migration."--(Donald Kerwin, Executive Director, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.)
William J. Byron
"This book represents a challenge to the teaching Church from two Catholic scholars whose faith convictions run deep and whose knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching is impressive."--(William J. Byron, S.J., former President, Catholic University & author of The Power of Principles: Ethics in the New Corporate Culture)
