REGULATION OF RETURN MIGRATION IN CHINA

Abstract

Introduction. The Chinese experience in regulating return migration demonstrates successful practices in attracting highly qualified personnel to the economy in order to protect national technological sovereignty. The purpose of the study is to identify and systematize the key factors that ensure the effectiveness of the Chinese model of managing the return migration of highly qualified personnel, in order to determine the possibilities of adapting the most successful practices to the conditions of other countries.

Materials and methods. The theoretical analysis is based on a neo-institutional approach, network theory and the theory of digital public administration. The empirical part uses the method of document analysis: official statistics from the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, reports from the Center for Research on Chinese Globalization, the Blue Book of Global Talents, and data from the Chinese recruitment platform Zhaopin.

Results and conclusions. A three-level management model for the return migration of highly qualified specialists in China has been presented. The national (elite) level is aimed at attracting scientists with high publication activity, top managers and engineers of the high-tech sector; the regional (main) level is aimed at mass attraction of young researchers, as well as specialists with work experience with a scientific degree; the local (stimulating) level is aimed at entrepreneurs – graduates of foreign educational institutions, participants in acceleration programs. Support measures for returning migrants from among highly qualified personnel include one-time lifting payments, housing subsidies, tax holidays, access to venture financing, as well as assistance in solving social and household issues.

The effectiveness of the model is confirmed by the following quantitative indicators: the return of more than 4.5 million graduates of foreign educational institutions in the period from 1978 to 2023, the return of more than 16 thousand scientists and technical specialists in the period from 2008 to 2018, as well as qualitative ones – an increase in the publication activity of scientists after their return, an increase in the last authorship index and a strengthening of leadership positions in national scientific and technical projects.

Discussion. The promising areas are the study of the factors of re-emigration and the analysis of the narratives of compatriots after their return. The experience learned can be useful for Russia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as other countries interested in attracting highly qualified personnel.