Social networks and institutions in transnational labor markets : the circular migration of Chinese and Indian engineers and professionals

Abstract

This dissertation examines the mechanisms of the circular migration of Chinese and Indian engineers and technology entrepreneurs. The study is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative data - including a survey of alumni from one of the Indian Institutes of Technology, a survey of Chinese engineers in Boston, and in-depth interviews. The study first looks into the post-migration settlement process of in the host countries and identifies significant changes in migrants' social networks at different stages of their careers. The study also examines the social processes that affect the decisions of migrant engineers to return to their home countries and their experience as returnees. In contrast to the conventional wisdom that often views the migration of highly skilled workers as highly individualized, the study finds that return migration is not a lonely journey. It is very often a group process instead of an individual process. Migrants establish various types of social ties and institutions during the migration and settlement process. They also draw heavily upon these networks and institutions when they return to their home countries. Another key finding is that return migration is often associated with entrepreneurship. Returnees from overseas have a higher propensity to start their own businesses than either non-migrants or migrants who stay abroad. This pattern reflects the interaction between the opportunity structures in the home countries and migrants' individual characteristics. A mixture of opportunities and constraints that exist in China and India often leads engineers into entrepreneurship when they return. By starting their own business, returnees can create a niche for themselves in the existing structure of the home countries. In addition, returnee entrepreneurs who are successful often have returned in groups.