Migration remains one of the most contentious and emotionally charged issues of our time. In this episode, we explore the evidence behind the debates with Catia Batista, Professor of Economics at Nova School of Business and Economics and Director of the Nova Africa Research Center. Professor Batista recently served as a visiting professor at LISER through the FNR's INTER Mobility programme.

Professor Batista reframes migration as fundamentally about human well-being rather than mere statistics and border policies. Drawing on her extensive research, she challenges conventional wisdom on "brain drain" – the emigration of highly skilled workers from developing countries. Her findings reveal a paradox: the possibility of migration actually incentivizes greater educational investment at home, potentially creating a "brain gain" that benefits sending countries even after accounting for emigration losses.

The conversation underscores the critical role of rigorous, evidence-based research in shaping migration policy. In an era where populist narratives and fear-driven rhetoric dominate political discourse, Professor Batista argues that researchers must strive to provide nuanced, data-driven insights that capture the complex realities of human mobility.

USEFUL LINKS

More about Prof. Catia Batista - https://catiabatista.org/

Nova School of Business and Economics - https://www.novasbe.unl.pt/en/

NOVAFRICA - https://novafrica.org/

LISER - https://www.liser.lu/

FNR's INTER Mobility programme - https://www.fnr.lu/funding-instruments/inter-mobility/