An examination of the influence of business environments on the attraction of globally mobile self-initiated expatriates. Issue 3 (29th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ryan, Jason; Silvanto, Sari
• Is Part Of: Journal of global mobility. Volume 9:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 382
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2021-07-29
• Subjects: SIE -- Business environment -- Global mobility -- Self-initiated expatriates -- Ease of doing business -- Talent flows; Aliens -- Periodicals; Foreign workers -- Periodicals; Labor mobility -- Periodicals; Labor and globalization -- Periodicals; 305.90691
• DOI: 10.1108/JGM-01-2021-0004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-8799

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: This study examines which dimensions of a business environment are most important for attracting globally mobile self-initiated expatriates to a country. The authors use secondary data from the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, IMD and the World Population Review to test eight hypotheses involving six macro-contextual factors that prior studies suggest attract internationally mobile skilled professionals, such as self-initiated expatriates, to a country's business environment. The macro-contextual factors examined are socio-cultural, economic, natural, ecological, technological clusters and legal and regulatory. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use secondary data from the World Bank, IMD, World Population Report and the World Economic Forum to test eight hypotheses concerning macro-contextual factors that attract self-initiated expatriates to a country's business environment. Findings: The study finds that factors such as the ease of hiring foreign labor, the use of English, macroeconomic stability, the diversity of the workforce and the quality of life in a country positively influence the attractiveness of its business environment to self-initiated expatriates. The study also finds that a business environment's socio-cultural, natural, economic and legal and regulatory macro-contextual attributes make it attractive to self-initiated expatriates. Originality/value: To reduce common source bias, the authors use secondary data from four sources to examine which of six macro-contextual factors make a sample of 63 national business environments attractive to self-initiated expatriates. This study is one of the few to examine the impact of business environments on global mobility.