Return migration in Italy: what do we know?

Return migration is the positive counterpart of brain drain. Human capital accumulation increases in a country if skilled agents go back home after a period spent working abroad. Effects of brain drain in Italy could be negative as highly skilled migrants decide not to come back to their native country. Our simple model shows that if preference for home consumption is balanced by career opportunities and life-style conditions, agents leave Italy and prefer to remain abroad. Data support and policy implications are provided.