Are push and pull factors for entrepreneurship and brain drain same? Perception of students and professionals

Abstract

Brain drain has gained attention since past few decades, this phenomenon is very apparent in Pakistan as number of people applying for immigration is increasing day by day. Although there are many measures that can be taken to reduce the process, however the best one in current local scenario is developing a safe and sound entrepreneurial niche. This study aims to provide causes of brain drain and preventive measures for this. Secondary aim of the study is to identify opinion of respondents about significance for using self-employment opportunities as solution for slowing the process of brain drain. Third this study will try to examine the relationship between factors causing brain drain and barriers preventing self-employment as career choice. Sample of the study was divided into two strata. First group consisted of 25 respondents from five high-notch professions including medicine and engineering. Second part of the sample was 20 students from doctoral (PhD), masters, medicine and engineering classes. A self developed instrumentwas be used to collect data. It is a semi-structured interview schedule for taking responses of first two segments of sample. Data was analyzed by using thematic analysis to achieve objectives of the study. It is evident that factors that are causing brain drain are almost same as those serving as barrier for adopting entrepreneurship as career choice. The officials can control brain drain by establishing entrepreneurial niche.