Quote from it: Weakness in human capital and particularly skill deficiency is a drag on investment and growth
in Africa. Progress in overcoming shortages of skilled and trained manpower seems to be
disappointingly slow, despite substantial resources devoted by both governments and donors to
this effort during the last three decades (OED, 1994). This deficiency is sustained at the same
time that Africa is losing a very significant proportion of its skilled and professional manpower
to other markets and increasingly depending on expatriates for many vital functions.
OIC countries face multiple challenges in achieving their development goals and reducing the gap with developed countries; one of the main challenges is the plight of human capital flight or what is known as brain drain.
In recent times, brain drain has been exacerbated by globalization which has increased people mobility
across country boundaries (see Iredale, 2001; Shenkar, 2001; Stalker, 2000). Furthermore, the
internationalization of professions and professional labor market has led to an increase in the level of
mobility and thus brain drain as documented in the works of Carr et al. (2005) and Iredale (2001)
Like I said, this is a well known, well understood phenomenon. Hell, a generation ago the Canadian government was trying to stop brain drain to the US since it was a drag on growth.
I was trying to gather more information, not debate.
But now that you mention it, none of those citations support your hyperbole that human capital flight "is the single biggest obstacle". They all refer to it as "a" problem, or "one of the main."
Sorry, I'm just jaded (seems any statement on the internet is met with "source please").
Anyhow, it's not politically popular to state such in today's climate, but it is the largest impediment to development. We could also add war, famine, and a lack of institutions, but those are arguably caused by a lack of development and lower human capital. It's not exactly a politically correct thing to say but, if all the educated people move away from a country, who's left to rule it?
Anyhow, lots of sources list corruption, inequality, human capital flight - my opinion is based on both my education (in economics) as well as my experience.
Citation needed.