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Theorizing Chinese Employment Relations Comparatively: Exchange, Reciprocity and the Moral Economy

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  • Robert Westwood
  • Andrew Chan
  • Stephen Linstead

Abstract

This paper contrasts the socio-cultural systems underpinning employment relations in the West and in the Overseas Chinese case. The analysis centres on the norm of reciprocity which, whilst taken as a universal phenomena, exhibits significant cross-cultural variation. Western employment relations are characterised by a model of impersonal rational economic exchange in which individuals engage in a utility calculus. Chinese employment relations remain more fully embedded in the wider socio-cultural system of which reciprocity is a vital and integral part. Employment relations are sustained by a personalistic tacit moral order. The implications for managing employment relations in changing and multi-cultural situations are discussed. The sustainabilty of the different employment relations systems are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Westwood & Andrew Chan & Stephen Linstead, 2004. "Theorizing Chinese Employment Relations Comparatively: Exchange, Reciprocity and the Moral Economy," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 365-389, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiapa:v:21:y:2004:i:3:p:365-389
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    Cited by:

    1. Danila Medvedev & Diag Davenport & Thomas Talhelm & Yin Li, 2024. "The motivating effect of monetary over psychological incentives is stronger in WEIRD cultures," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(3), pages 456-470, March.
    2. Xina Yuan & Zhaoyang Guo & Jin Won Lee, 2020. "Good connections with rivals may weaken a firm’s competitive practices: The negative effect of competitor ties on market orientation practices and innovative performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 693-718, September.
    3. Ngai, Steven Sek-yum & Cheung, Chau-kiu & Yuan, Rui & Lin, Shen, 2016. "Work motivation of unemployed youths: Moderating effects of financial dependence on parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 157-165.
    4. Nailin Bu & Jean-Paul Roy, 2005. "Career Success Networks in China: Sex Differences in Network Composition and Social Exchange Practices," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 381-403, December.
    5. Yannick Thams & Ying Liu & Mary Glinow, 2013. "Asian favors: More than a cookie cutter approach," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 461-486, June.
    6. Taolin Wang & Lirong Long & Yong Zhang & Wei He, 2019. "A Social Exchange Perspective of Employee–Organization Relationships and Employee Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: The Moderating Role of Individual Moral Identity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 473-489, October.
    7. Raymond Loi & Hang-Yue Ngo, 2010. "Mobility norms, risk aversion, and career satisfaction of Chinese employees," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 237-255, June.
    8. Wei-ping Wu & Alicia Leung, 2005. "Does a Micro-Macro Link Exist Between Managerial Value of Reciprocity, Social Capital and Firm Performance? The Case of SMEs in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 445-463, December.
    9. Arménio Rego & Miguel Cunha, 2009. "How individualism–collectivism orientations predict happiness in a collectivistic context," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 19-35, March.
    10. Carl Rhodes & Robert Westwood, 2016. "The Limits of Generosity: Lessons on Ethics, Economy, and Reciprocity in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 235-248, January.
    11. Kévin André & Sylvain Bureau & Arthur Gautier & Olivier Rubel, 2017. "Beyond the Opposition Between Altruism and Self-interest: Reciprocal Giving in Reward-Based Crowdfunding," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(2), pages 313-332, December.
    12. Yuntao Bai & Peter Li & Youmin Xi, 2012. "The distinctive effects of dual-level leadership behaviors on employees’ trust in leadership: An empirical study from China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 213-237, June.
    13. Junfan Yu & Saskia Klerk & Michael Hess, 2023. "The influence of cronyism on entrepreneurial resource acquisition," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 121-150, March.
    14. A. Newman & G. Schwarz & B. Cooper & S. Sendjaya, 2017. "How Servant Leadership Influences Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Roles of LMX, Empowerment, and Proactive Personality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 49-62, September.
    15. Giese, Karsten & Thiel, Alena, 2012. "When Voicelessness Meets Speechlessness – Struggling for Equity in Chinese-Ghanaian Employment Relations," GIGA Working Papers 194, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    16. Shike Li & Kriti Jain & Konstantina Tzini, 2022. "When Supervisor Support Backfires: The Link Between Perceived Supervisor Support and Unethical Pro-supervisor Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 133-151, August.

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