Socio-Economic Causes and Implications of the Brain Drain in Kyrgyzstan

This paper reports on the current status of Kyrgyzstan’s brain drain -- highly-skilled students and professional emigrating to other countries to study and work, leaving an unfilled gap behind. Side effects in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries are also discussed. The study was written by a native of Kyrgyzstan, with help from an American colleague, and presents insights and interpretation of the phenomenon from available Russian language and and English resources. The focus is Kyrgyz economic challenges and problems with higher education, which lead more and more citizens to find their best option in studying and/or working overseas.