THE DETERMINING FACTORS OF THE BRAIN DRAIN IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY

This paper elaborates the issue about the ,,brain drain” phenomenon observing it through the prism of its intensity in the Republic of Macedonia and its positive and negative impacts, but also its effects on the development of the economy in the country. This research, which covered 1400 respondents from the target group of young people, aged between 15 and 29, begins by providing answers to the questions about the extent to which this phenomenon is present in Macedonia, what are the characteristics of the people who tend to leave the country, what are the pull factors that attract them to go abroad and also, what are the push factors that stimulate them to leave their own country, what are their expectations in relation to the development of the country in the future, what are their opinions about the effects of the brain drain on the development of the country – whether they are positive or negative effects and finally, which measures and policies, according to the respondents are of a great importance and should be taken by the government institutions and authorities, non-governmental organizations and private sector in order to reduce brain drain in the country.Republic of Macedonia is threatened by serious losses from brain drain that could decrease the human capital of the country and its economic growth. Macedonia faces a serious brain drain threat: 77.03% of respondents have firm stances to permanently leave the country, which is equal to loss of intellectual potential, loss of future skilled workers and entrepreneurs. It is a huge number of young people and poses a great danger to the aging of the population in the country, a risk to the economic potential and economic development of the country, especially if the continuity of migration lasts for a long time.Fortunately, the brain drain is a dynamic phenomenon, and its direction and intensity can be significantly changed through honest, serious and selfless efforts of all social stakeholders. In this direction, well-designed measures for the preservation of human capital in the country and their consistent implementation in practice, could turn this trend of brain drain into a successful brain circulation in Macedonia for a period of 5-10 years.Based on the presented results of the research given in the following text, but also on the basis of personal expertise and continuous monitoring of the brain drain process from the country, we propose several most important recommendations for activities at different levels of influence.