The Role of the State in Attracting Highly-Skilled Migrants: The Case of The Netherlands

The role of the state, with regard to immigration policies in particular, is still largely seen as having an effect on international migration flows through controls and selective admittance of migrants that satisfy policy-defined targets. However, highly-skilled migrants may choose among many different locations; hence, states may need to alter their view of migration of the highly-skilled, considering the individual as the selector rather than the selected. This article acknowledges this newly emerging perspective and considers skilled migration as a supply-side problem where the role of the state is seen as one about attracting potential migrants. Different theories on determinants of migration are observed from the position of a highly-skilled individual. Following up on the overview of theories, we draw a list of qualities that are relevant for the decision-making process of a highly skilled migrant. This analysis is followed by a country-specific assessment of the Netherlands concerning its position in the competition for internationally-mobile human capital. The elements of the immigration policy and other relevant country-specific factors are observed from the perspective of incentives or disincentives to immigrate.