Brain drain - does Germany offer too few opportunities for top researchers?

Abstract

"Is there an exodus of young German research talent, especially to the United States? Margret Wintermantel, president of the Conference of German University Rectors, sees a problem in the general conditions that determine the competitiveness of German universities. In her opinion a lot these conditions are not designed such that at German universities 'the best' can win. In the opinion of Matthias Kleiner, president of the German Research Foundation (DFG), many positive developments have occurred in recent years so that the opportunities for top researchers are better in Germany than several years ago. For Jürgen Mlynek, president of the Helmholtz Association, the fear of a brain drain in Germany is justified: Germany is not doing enough to offer a dependable career outlook to junior science researchers. Efforts to offer fixed employment to foreign researchers are also insufficient. He sees a problem in the public-sector wage contract (TVÖD), which is to be replaced by a special academic contract that honours both mobility and experience in other institutions and permits stronger rewards for individual performance. Leonore Sauer, Federal Institute for Population Research in Wiesbaden, complains that despite widespread interest a sufficient data base is still lacking. A comprehensive examination of this subject is only possible for specific target countries or specific population groups. In the opinion of Herbert Brücker, Institute for Labour Market and Occupational Research, Nuremberg, Germany is not suffering from a brain drain but from an inadequate brain gain, as measured by the average qualification of immigrants." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Wintermantel, M., Kleiner, M., Mlynek, J., Sauer, L. & Brücker, H. (2008): Brain Drain: Gibt es in Deutschland zu wenig Möglichkeiten für Spitzenforscher? In: Ifo-Schnelldienst, Vol. 61, No. 4, p. 3-19.