GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 203
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
More and more qualified people are moving from poor to rich countries to fill vacancies in specialist areas like engineering, computing and medicine. Some people believe that by encouraging the movement of such people, rich countries are stealing from poor countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement of workers around the world.
Which viewpoint do you agree with?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Brain drain has become severe for the poorer nations that lose highly significant human resources such as architects, computer programmers, healthcare professionals, to wealthier nations. Many think that affluent countries rob these talents by enticing them, while others opine that the trend is a natural phenomenon. I, however, readily concur with the view that the developed world steals from the developing world through brain drain.
Many proponents of the exodus of talented individuals argue that migration is a natural phenomenon. In search of greener pastures, human beings have been migrating from time immemorial. In addition to this, they go on arguing that the ageing population in rich countries are facing the issue of a workforce while a highly skilled workforce in poor countries needs opportunity, which in turn, leads to inevitable migration. Therefore, there is an objective condition for migration, and thus it is a natural phenomenon.
On the other hand, critics of brain drain contend that affluent countries steal costly human resources like engineers, technicians, artists, doctors, computer scientists, and I agree with the notion. Talented people of critically important sectors are precious resources for any nation. In fact, the education and training of these highly skilled professionals are heavily subsidized by the governments of the developing countries. Therefore, brain drain is a boon for developed countries as they get valuable human resources without shouldering the burden of education. That is why the developed world introduces a lucrative visa program so as to encourage significant human resources. For instance, during the tech revolution in the USA around 2000, a large influx of IT workers from India migrated to the country under the H1-B visa program. Thus, the rich countries are robbing important human resources from poor countries through brain drain.
In conclusion, the departure of highly qualified people from poorer nations to affluent nations creates unbearable losses to poor countries. So, I believe that wealthy nations should stop stealing those human resources for the sake of global development.