Understanding re-expatriation intentions among overseas returnees - an emerging economy perspective

• Published in: International journal of human resource management Vol. 27; no. 17; pp. 1938 - 1966
• Main Authors: Ho, Nga Thi Thuy, Seet, Pi-Shen, Jones, Jane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 24.09.2016; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: brain circulation; Culture shock; emerging economies; Emerging markets; Expatriate employees; Expatriates; re-entry experiences; re-expatriation; Return to work programs; returnees; self-initiated expatriates; Studies; Vietnam
• ISSN: 0958-5192; 1466-4399
• DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2015.1088884

This study investigates the reasons why returnees in an emerging economy, Vietnam, who have studied and/or worked abroad, and who have returned to their home country, intend to re-expatriate on their own initiative. We combine pull-push theory with the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to explain the re-expatriation intentions of returnees. Using path analysis on a sample of 290 Vietnamese returnees, we find three pull-push factors associated with home and host countries that have a significant impact on returnees' intention to re-expatriate: (1) dissatisfaction with career and life in their home country, (2) reverse culture shock and (3) expected career, family and quality-of-life outcomes from re-expatriation. For the TPB, we find that attitudes toward re-expatriation and subjective norms affect returnees' intention to re-expatriate. Further, these factors either fully or partially mediate the role of pull-push factors on intention to re-expatriate. The study adds to the limited number of empirical studies on self-initiated re-expatriation and brain circulation of returnees in emerging economies.