What makes them move abroad? Reviewing and exploring differences between self-initiated and assigned expatriation

2012/03/29 by Maike Andresen, Torsten Biemann, Marshall W. Pattie · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #International Student and Expatriate Challenges #Higher Education and Employability #Gender Diversity and Inequality

paper · doi:10.1080/09585192.2012.669780

openalex publication_date 2012/03/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Only in recent years have self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) been distinguished from assigned expatriates (AEs). But there is still a lack of empirically based comparative results. Statistical analysis, performed on data from 193 expatriates (NAE = 67; NSIE = 126), indicates that self-initiated foreign work experience is significantly more likely to be chosen by women and those having lower job levels. Furthermore, boundaryless and protean career orientation only partially predicted which career path is chosen. SIEs have higher organizational mobility preferences, but do not differ from AEs in their boundaryless mindset and protean career attitude. Implications of these findings for research in expatriation are discussed.

Citations

• WHY PEOPLE STAY: USING JOB EMBEDDEDNESS TO PREDICT VOLUNTARY TURNOVER.
• Job Market Signaling
• Missing Data Analysis: Making It Work in the Real World
• BUNDLING HUMAN CAPITAL WITH ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT: THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENT EXPERIENCE ON MULTINATIONAL FIRM PERFORMANCE AND CEO PAY.
• The Quarterly Journal of Economics

Cited by

• Motivations and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self-Initiated Expatriates, Assigned Expatriates, and Immigrant Workers: The Case of Portuguese Migrant Workers in the United Kingdom
• Expatriate [wikipedia]

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