A Multi-Level Study on the Factors Influencing Chinese Talents’ International Migration Intentions Based on Grounded Theory and Interpretive Structural Modeling

Liu Dandan and Zhang Meng
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Liu Dandan: University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing China.
Zhang Meng: Shenzhen Gobroad Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China.

Journal of Scientific Reports, 2025, vol. 9, issue 1, 193-218

Abstract: In the context of globalization and intensifying competition for talent, China faces a severe challenge of losing high-end talent. This study employs grounded theory methodology, conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews with 30 Chinese talents at different stages of migration (completed migration, in the process of migrating, and no intention to migrate), generating qualitative data totaling 130,000 words. Through three levels of coding (open, axial, and selective), the study systematically identified 14 core influencing factors, including children’s education, asset allocation, passport value, and social inclusiveness. Building on this, an interpretive structural model (ISM) was constructed, resulting in a four-level driving mechanism: surface-level factors (e.g., children’s education, migration costs) directly influence decision-making; mid-level factors (e.g., workplace environment, policy changes) drive decisions through indirect pathways; and foundational factors (e.g., social welfare, social inclusiveness) shape long-term migration tendencies through systemic effects. The study further incorporates qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to reveal nonlinear impacts of multiple condition combinations on migration intentions, such as the synergistic effects of “educational needs-economic feasibility-career opportunities” (coverage rate of 87.5%) and threshold effects of “identity backup-policy fluctuations.” This paper innovatively combines grounded theory with ISM in the Chinese context, breaking away from the linear paradigm of traditional push-pull theories and uncovering the interactive mechanisms of “risk hedging” and “institutional embeddedness” in migration decisions. It provides policymakers with a hierarchical intervention framework and dynamic path analysis tools to optimize talent retention strategies.

Keywords: Elite talents; International migration; Grounded theory; Interpretive structural modeling; Qualitative comparative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aif:report:v:9:y:2025:i:1:p:193-218

DOI: 10.58970/JSR.1101

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