Pistone, M: Stepping Out of the Brain Drain

Michele R. Pistone is professor of law and director of the clinical program at Villanova University. John J. Hoeffner is an attorney and a former editor-in-chief of The Catholic Lawyer. They maintain a website on skilled migration at stepoutmigration.com.

Catholic social teaching's traditional opposition to 'brain drain' migration from developing to developed countries is due for a reassessment. Stepping Out of the Brain Drain provides exactly this, as it demonstrates that both the economic and the ethical rationales for the teaching's opposition to 'brain drain' have been undermined in recent years, and shows how the adoption of a less critical policy could provide enhanced opportunities for poor countries to accelerate their economic development.

Part 1 Definitions: The Scope of This Book, STEP OUT Migration: A New Term for Brain Drain, Catholic Social Teaching Part 2 Catholic Social Thought and Immigration: The Openness of the Tradition and the Exception, Foundational Principles, Applying Human Dignity and the Common Good to Immigration Part 3 Events and Understandings Influencing the Formation of the Church's STEP OUT Migration Policy: Political Developments, Developments in the Church Part 4 The Case for STEP OUT Migration: An Overview, A History of Accentuating the Negative, The Importance of Modern Technology and Globalization Part 5 The Contributions of STEP OUT Migrants: International Knowledge Transfers, Monetary Transfers, Technology Development and Transfer Part 6 The Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II and Their Implications: Work in Catholic Social Thought, Human Dignity and STEP OUT Migration Part 7 Next Steps: Recommendations, Conclusion Part 8 Appendix A: Catholic Social Teaching and Political Discourse Part 9 Appendix B: A Short History of the American Catholic Church's Programmatic Support for Immigrant Communities