> Almost no one wants to leave their homeland unless the opportunities elsewhere are significantly better.
That highly depends on where you homeland actually is. I can think of many places on earth where people would like nothing better than to leave but simply can't (language barrier, degrees not good enough to relocate, etc ...)
Agreed. Interpret "opportunities" broadly. I don't just mean job opportunities, I mean all sorts of economic and social opportunities. If Bulgaria had top universities, great governance, a vibrant economy, and all the social changes that come along with that, I don't think young Bulgarians would be departing in droves.
1. Celebrate brain drain, because your people are improving their circumstances
2. Quickly move to one-up the U.S. and attract talent back to the EU
Almost no one wants to leave their homeland unless the opportunities elsewhere are significantly better.