Mapping the expatriate literature: a bibliometric review of the field from 1998 to 2017 and identification of current research fronts

Abstract

As expatriate literature continues to grow, this review presents a quantitative analysis of the expatriate field, utilizing advances in bibliometric science mapping and social network analysis to examine 1650 articles published from 1998 to 2017. This approach offers a conceptual, relational and analytic framework for examining the foundations, structure and interconnections of the expatriate field. The results of a co-occurrence keyword analysis show four interconnected clusters: ‘strategic management of international organizations’, ‘expatriates’ context’, ‘managing expatriates’ and ‘adapting to the local environment’. A bibliometric coupling analysis of articles published from 2015 to 2017 identifies the current research fronts, which centre on the topics of ‘expatriate adjustment’, ‘expatriates and multinational companies’, ‘careers’ and ‘methodological advances’. Using social network metrics, central keywords and articles are identified. Each cluster and research front is discussed. Three downloadable, searchable maps are provided, enabling further examination. The results offer a visual and structured overview of the field, and indicate both areas of research concentration and areas that are neglected.