Which term describes the phenomenon of educated individuals leaving their home country for better opportunities?

The term that describes the phenomenon of educated individuals leaving their home country for better opportunities is "brain drain." This term specifically refers to the emigration of highly skilled or educated individuals in search of better employment, living conditions, or opportunities for professional development abroad. The impact of brain drain can be significant for the home country, as it often leads to a loss of talent and expertise that could contribute to the nation’s economic development and progress.

While "human capital flight," "skilled migration," and "intellectual exodus" are concepts related to the movement of educated individuals, they are not as widely recognized or specifically defined as brain drain. Human capital flight often emphasizes the economic implications of losing human resources, but it isn't as commonly used. Skilled migration describes the movement in more general terms without the emphasis on the detrimental impact on the country of origin, and intellectual exodus focuses on the outflow of creative or intellectual capital in a broader sense. Therefore, brain drain remains the most distinct and recognized term for this specific phenomenon.