How does foreign aid affect the emigration of medical workers from developing countries?

Severe shortages of health personnel provide a justification for the international community to support developing countries in their efforts to retain medical workers through improved local conditions. Our new research shows that aid for health as well as general efforts to foster economic growth indeed lead to lower emigration of medical workers. The effects are modest, however, suggesting that foreign assistance can only play a minor role in mitigating the medical brain drain.