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When international mobility meets local connections: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Feng Li
  • Li Tang

Abstract

Transnational academic mobility has long been championed as positive and worthy of supporting. Yet, little attention has been paid to its joint impact with local connections on the career advancement of established scholars. Utilizing novel curriculum vitae data of 1447 Chang Jiang Scholars, we examine the relationship between academic mobility and the speed of obtaining prestigious academic titles. Our results suggest that local connections accelerate the career development of Chinese scholars, while international academic mobility has a negligible effect or even slows down the speed of late-phase career advancement. Returnee scholars tend to obtain national academic titles within a longer time period compared with their local counterparts. This penalty of international academic mobility also holds for returnees with only overseas PhD training experience and international research visits. Local scientists are more likely than their returnee peers with equivalent ties to have a quicker career trajectory. Policy implications are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng Li & Li Tang, 2019. "When international mobility meets local connections: Evidence from China," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 46(4), pages 518-529.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:46:y:2019:i:4:p:518-529.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/scipol/scz004
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Cong Cao & Jeroen Baas & Caroline S Wagner & Koen Jonkers, 2020. "Returning scientists and the emergence of China’s science system," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 47(2), pages 172-183.
    2. Liang, Wenyan & Gu, Jun & Nyland, Chris, 2022. "China's new research evaluation policy: Evidence from economics faculty of Elite Chinese universities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(1).
    3. Ying Zhang & Cornelia Lawson & Liangping Ding, 2023. "Can scientists remain internationally visible after the return to their home country? A study of Chinese scientists," MIOIR Working Paper Series 2023-01, The Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR), The University of Manchester.
    4. Cheng Peng & Zhepeng (Lionel) Li & Chaojiang Wu, 2023. "Researcher geographic mobility and publication productivity: an investigation into individual and institutional characteristics and the roles of academicians," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(1), pages 379-406, January.
    5. Grochocki, Luís Filipe de Miranda & Cabello, Andrea Felippe, 2022. "Academic endogamy or immobility? The impact on scholarly productivity in a developing country," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    6. Moritz Müller & Robin Cowan & Helena Barnard, 2023. "The role of local colleagues in establishing international scientific collaboration: Social capital in emerging science systems," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 32(5), pages 1077-1108.
    7. Momeni, Fakhri & Karimi, Fariba & Mayr, Philipp & Peters, Isabella & Dietze, Stefan, 2022. "The many facets of academic mobility and its impact on scholars' career," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2).
    8. Marielle Non & Jeroen van Honk & Vince van Houten & Inge van der Weijden & Thed van Leeuwen, 2022. "Getting off to a flying start? The effects of an early-career international mobility grant on scientific performance," CPB Discussion Paper 443, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    9. Liu, Meijun & Hu, Xiao, 2021. "Will collaborators make scientists move? A Generalized Propensity Score analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1).
    10. Liu, Meijun & Hu, Xiao, 2022. "Movers’ advantages: The effect of mobility on scientists’ productivity and collaboration," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    11. Abramo, Giovanni & D'Angelo, Ciriaco Andrea & Grilli, Leonardo, 2021. "The effects of citation-based research evaluation schemes on self-citation behavior," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(4).
    12. Jingyi Zhao & Chunli Wei & Jiang Li, 2023. "Is the research performance of Chinese returnees better than that of their local counterparts?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(5), pages 3091-3105, May.
    13. Si, Kao & Li, Yiwei & Ma, Chao & Guo, Feng, 2023. "Affiliation bias in peer review and the gender gap," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).

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