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Abstract

The willingness of host country nationals (HCNs) to provide support to the expatriate has received a lot of attention in the literature on international assignments. Surprisingly, though, the number of empirical studies examining this relationship is extremely limited. This study examines the role of HCNs' collectivistic orientation, interpersonal affect, and guanxi in relation to their willingness to support expatriates. Using data from 212 HCNs in China, it is found that HCNs' perceived relationship quality with the expatriate has a significant impact on their willingness to provide assistance, both role information and social support, to expatriates. Further, it is found that relationship quality is related to perceived cultural similarity. The results reinforce the importance of paying attention to the perceptions and reactions of HCNs towards expatriates. Implications of the findings are discussed, and suggestions are offered for future research.

Le désir des autochtones chinois à soutenir les expatriés : le rôle du collectivisme, de l'affect interpersonnel et des Guanxi (Arup Varma, Shaun Pichler, Pawan Budhwar et Soumendu Biswas)

Le désir des autochtones, ou nationaux du pays d'accueil (NPA), à fournir un soutien aux expatriés a fait l'objet de beaucoup d'attention dans la littérature sur les postes internationaux. Etonnamment, le nombre d'études empiriques s'attachant à ce sujet est extrêmement limité. Dans cette étude, nous examinons le rôle de l'orientation collectiviste des NPA, de l'affect interpersonnel et des guanxi par rapport à leur désir d'aider les expatriés. A l'aide de données provenant de 212 NPA en Chine, nous découvrons que la qualité perçue par le NPA de sa relation avec l'expatrié a un impact significatif sur son désir de fournir une assistance, que ce soit en termes d'information ou de soutien social, aux expatriés. En outre, nous découvrons que la qualité de la relation est liée à la similarité culturelle perçue. Nos résultats insistent sur l'importance de prêter attention aux perceptions et réactions des NPA envers les expatriés. Nous examinons aussi les implications de nos résultats et offrons des suggestions de recherche future.

Keywords

expatriates host country nationals role information social categorization social support

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Chinese Host Country Nationals' Willingness to Support Expatriates

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