Abstract

This paper deals with a technological transfer channel from the developed North, and more specifically from Europe and America, towards Tunisia, through brain gain which includes both the "return option" as well as the "diaspora option". This idea has been the subject of this research with the aim of determining the technological diffusion vector for Tunisia, especially in front of the ineffectiveness of technology transfer channels commonly recognized as international trade, intra-industry trade and foreign direct investment. Within this framework, the empirical findings have globally shown, till 2010 which is the pre-revolution year, that Tunisia can garner benefits from Northern research and development via a return of Tunisian competencies to their country of origin (return option) while staying in the country of residence (diaspora option), by taking into consideration some categories in Europe such as teachers & researchers and other skilled executives. However, these results would be promising for the other categories of Tunisian competencies in Europe like engineers and architects, doctors and chemicals, computer scientists and lawyers and for all categories of Tunisian competencies in America, who are not so far involved in the development of their country of origin, by taking into account the post-revolutionary period that has begun in 2011, and that will extend over the medium and above all the long term. These results would be predicting a significant improvement in political and economic situation in Tunisia and therefore a favorable climate for technology transfer.

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