Linking institutional context to the community and career embeddedness of skilled migrants: The role of destination- and origin-country identifications

Günter K. Stahl (), Eren Akkan (), B. Sebastian Reiche (), Aida Hajro (), Mary Zellmer-Bruhn (), Mila Lazarova (), Nicole Franziska Richter (), Dan V. Caprar (), Jelena Zikic (), Ingmar Björkman (), Chris Brewster (), Jean-Luc Cerdin (), Callen C. Clegg (), Eric Davoine (), Alexei Koveshnikov (), Wolfgang Mayrhofer () and Lena Zander ()
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Günter K. Stahl: Vienna University of Economics and Business
Eren Akkan: Kedge Business School
B. Sebastian Reiche: IESE Business School
Aida Hajro: University of Leeds
Mary Zellmer-Bruhn: University of Minnesota
Mila Lazarova: Vienna University of Economics and Business
Nicole Franziska Richter: University of Southern Denmark
Dan V. Caprar: The University of Sydney
Jelena Zikic: York University
Ingmar Björkman: Hanken School of Economics
Chris Brewster: University of Reading
Jean-Luc Cerdin: ESSEC Business School
Callen C. Clegg: Brunel University London
Eric Davoine: Université de Fribourg/NCCR LIVES
Alexei Koveshnikov: Aalto University School of Business
Wolfgang Mayrhofer: Vienna University of Economics and Business
Lena Zander: Uppsala University

Journal of International Business Studies, 2024, vol. 55, issue 6, No 3, 703-722

Abstract: Abstract Migration is one of the most pressing global issues of our time. However, relatively little is known about the factors and mechanisms that govern the post-migration experiences of skilled migrants. We adopt an acculturation- and social identity-based approach to examine how differences between institutional characteristics in the destination and origin country, as well as migrants’ experiences with formal and informal institutions shape their identification with the destination and origin country and contribute to their community and career embeddedness. Our study of 1709 highly skilled migrants from 48 origin countries in 12 destination countries reveals that the institutional environment migrants encounter provides both sources of opportunity (potential for human development and value-congruent societal practices) and sources of disadvantage (experienced ethnocentrism and downgrading). These contrasting dynamics affect migrants’ destination-country identification, their origin-country identification and, ultimately, their embeddedness in the destination country. Our results have important implications for multinational enterprises and policy makers that can contribute to enhancing skilled migrants’ community and career embeddedness. For example, these actors may nurture a work environment and provide supportive policies that buffer against the institutional sources of disadvantage we identified in this study, while helping migrants to leverage the opportunities available in the destination country.

Keywords: Immigration; Identification; Embeddedness; Acculturation; Institutional characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1057/s41267-024-00683-w

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