Public interest in the brain drain has grown noticeably in recent years. One of the factors behind the emigration of qualified young people is increased international competition to develop and attract the best talents, whose value is regarded as one of the key elements in the development of advanced economies this century, and this competition is creating serious difficulties for Italy. This article offers a reading of the phenomenon that starts from the scientific literature and examines some national and international data, with special attention to the most critical aspects, including the costs and potentially positive implications of the phenomenon. only subscribers can see the full article