It was only supposed to be temporary: exploring assigned expatriates’ decision to becoming long-term migrants in their host country

Sungah Hong, Christopher Richardson and Noor Fareen Abdul Rahim

Journal of Global Mobility, 2025, vol. 13, issue 2, 240-269

Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine push and pull factors influencing assigned expatriates’ (AEs) decision to remain in their host countries indefinitely as long-term migrants. Design/methodology/approach - In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 individuals from different developed countries on renewable visas in their host country of Malaysia, having arrived initially as AEs. Interview data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings - The findings highlight push and pull factors and suggest that AEs’ decisions to become long-term migrants can be attributed to three contextual factors: personal, organizational and country. Practical implications - This study provides insights for human resource managers to understand potential motivating factors that might influence an AE to consider remaining indefinitely in their host country as a long-term migrant, thus terminating their contract with their MNC employer. Originality/value - This is among the first empirical studies in the field of international business on AEs who subsequently became long-term migrants in a host country. Moreover, it highlights the possible change in expatriates’ temporary status. It contributes to global mobility literature by examining how in highly skilled professionals, the pursuit of a long-term professional career and lifestyle improvement correlates with a “privileged” position in a host country.

Keywords: Assigned expatriates; International assignment; Transition; Global mobility; Migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:jgmpps:jgm-07-2024-0072

DOI: 10.1108/JGM-07-2024-0072

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