Repatriation: empirical evidence from a longitudinal study of careers and expectations among Finnish expatriates

Abstract

One of the newer areas of research in the field of international human resource management concerns the repatriation of international assignees at the end of their time abroad. This paper is one of the first examples of a longitudinal cohort analysis of repatriates. Tracking the same group of well-qualified Finnish expatriates from their time abroad to after they return home, we are able to compare their views while abroad with their experience on return. We find that, as anticipated in the literature, many expatriates change employer as, or soon after, they return, but that they are in general satisfied with the effects of the foreign experience on their careers. Among this cohort at least, their expectations were met more often than not, though this was less because the organization made use of their international experience than because they were personally successful.

Keywords:

• International assignment
• repatriation
• expectations
• expatriate management
• careers