Process-Oriented Analysis of Brain Drain: A Key to Understanding Institutional Inefficiencies in Iran

Attention to social issues and a deep understanding of them in social sciences, particularly in examining complex phenomena such as brain drain from brain-exporting countries like Iran, is vital. By recognizing the mechanisms and processes influencing these issues, process-oriented research can lead to significant changes in addressing social problems.

This study employs a process-oriented approach to explore the institutional factors affecting the decisions of elites to leave their home country and not return. We analyze institutional interactions and identify factors that directly or indirectly influence these decisions. Qualitative process-oriented analyses, based on the experiences of elites, identify the institutional inefficiencies related to this phenomenon. Furthermore, to facilitate the understanding of these processes, process models have been developed that illustrate how institutional structures impact the migration decisions of elites.

In this research, we believe that a process-oriented approach not only aids in gaining a deeper understanding of the social and institutional issues related to brain drain but can also contribute to developing effective strategies for addressing these issues.