Exporting African Experts for Remittance Revenue?

Let me start off by saying this is an extremely contradictory idea. The proposed suggestion is to support the emigration of experts in order to make money, so that Africa development programs can be started that require experts, we are exporting our experts to start programs that require experts. Sure, in the short term this may work, the burst of remittances from experts who have been offered support by Africa to enter developed countries will allow for the temporary increase in development programs. However, this is clearly a direct aid to the brain drain in Africa. Part of the reason Africa is having such a tough time is because of the lack of experts, so why don't we just ship off the experts we have left? No. Remittances are not even very effective now. A study by the World Bank showsthroughout Africa, “Financial and monetary policies and regulations have created barriers to the flow of remittances and their effective investment.” (Cerstin & Maimbo, 2003) The other issue with remittances is that it is determined on a country to country bases how those remittances will be passed back to Africa and many countries make it difficult for remittances to return to the hands which they were intended for. Africa has to built up from within in order to sustain long-lasting growth.

Economic development programs are however, very important to the growth of Africa. Remittances is not the way to fund these programs. Relating to my previous essay, African countries have to start by providing the people with all of the basics needs and economic development programs would be the best way to do this. The question is if not remittances, where does Africa get the money for these programs? This is a very difficult question. Exporting African experts would provide the financial support in the short-term (possibly) but for sustainable growth this would be a disaster. I think the money has to come from many different places. Contrary to Professor Logan's belief, I believe that Africa has to take money from other countries in the form of aid. In the short term, aid and loans from financial institutions would be the most effective way of funding these economic development programs. The barrier that lies in the way is the African leadership. It is well documented the corruption of government officials especially when it comes to aid. It would be very important that the government officials are checked and balanced by other parts of the government, maybe even the AU. With “money-leaks” in the government aid and other money will never reach the people to provide economic development and basic needs.

Exporting African experts is definitely not the answer to economic development, the answer, however, is very hard to come by and may never be realized.

Sande, Cerstin, and Samuel M. Maimbo. "Migrant Labor Remittances in Africa." World Bank 64th ser. (2003): 1-3. 10 Dec. 2007 .