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Rethinking Self-Initiated Expatriation in International Highly Skilled Migration

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Global Mobility of Highly Skilled People

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on Migration ((IPMI,volume 16))

Abstract

International migration and mobility, and the concept of self-initiated expatriation (SIE) (SIE as abbreviation is used for self-initiated expatriation as a concept, and for a self-initiated expatriate (SIE) or self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) as individuals) are intensively debated, ranging from research and politics to families and corporate recruiting strategies. Today, previously nonexistent possibilities and contexts enable and advance new processes and patterns of highly skilled mobility, such as self-initiated expatriation. An emerging field of study examines the concept of SIE and boundaryless career building processes from the perspectives of highly skilled people and human resource management. The importance of ‘global talents’, the demand for skills in globalizing labour markets, and the phenomenon of individualization influence policies at multiple levels and pull highly skilled people in diverse destinations. International opportunities beyond traditional corporate assignments generate various life and career options for these ‘talents’. The aim of the chapter is to foster reconceptualization and contextualization of SIE and its cross-dissemination. It provides an overview of the approaches and debates in international migration and mobility research, and focuses on these talents as embedded individuals. The chapter addresses recent theory discussions, such as the ‘mobility turn’ and the ‘big data’ in empirical social research, and it synthesizes a theory landscape on SIE research. It incorporates various disciplinary angles, interlinking different lenses, framings and mechanisms to trigger future research. The contribution broadens understanding of SIE concept both empirically and theoretically with particular insights from the Finnish context.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In other words, across the “Global South” and the “Global North”, see more in www.worldbank.org

  2. 2.

    The drivers and patterns of mobility of SIEs are not necessarily similar to those in migration studies (cf. UNCTAD 2009).

  3. 3.

    See more at http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/theme/international-migration/

  4. 4.

    A person who migrates from one country to another is considered as a migrant (see OECD 2008; de Haas 2010).

  5. 5.

    http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ Accessed 26 June 2017.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Karelian Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland

    Driss Habti

  2. School of Economics, Belt & Road Institute of International Business, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China

    Maria Elo

  3. Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Maria Elo

  4. Migration Institute of Finland, Turku, Finland

    Maria Elo

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  1. Driss Habti
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Karelian Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland

    Driss Habti

  2. School of Economics, Belt & Road Institute of International Business, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China

    Maria Elo

  3. Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Maria Elo

  4. Migration Institute of Finland, Turku, Finland

    Maria Elo

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Habti, D., Elo, M. (2019). Rethinking Self-Initiated Expatriation in International Highly Skilled Migration. In: Habti, D., Elo, M. (eds) Global Mobility of Highly Skilled People. International Perspectives on Migration, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95056-3_1

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