Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

© 2015, Sociological Demography Press. The purpose of this study is to explore income contingent loans as a mechanism for collecting a “Brain Drain Tax” as proposed by Bhagwati. As originally proposed, developing countries would receive taxes levied on emigrants from developing countries to recompense them for the losses imposed by the brain drain. Income continent loans provide a potential method of collection as a notional debt could be imposed at the time of immigration and paid off over time though income tax levies. Using Australia as a case study, we explore the potential revenue that would be collected through the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) from a notional debt of $5000 (Australian) per skilled immigrant. Using census data we estimate around 25,000 skill immigrants per year would incur a notional HECS debit of $125 million (Australian) with around half being repaid under current income threshold arrangements. Extending the tax to unskilled migrants would more than double the revenue. The study finally highlights several administrative and legal issues that would need to be resolved, including options for remitting funds back to developing countries.

Type

Journal

Population Review

Publication Date

01/01/2015

Volume

54

Pages

13 - 27