scholarly journals Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Sweden: The Liability of Newness

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6478
Author(s):  
Henrik Barth ◽  
Ghazal Zalkat

Immigrant entrepreneurs face many challenges in the various early phases of their companies’ existence. These challenges are often referred to as “the liability of newness”. While some of these challenges are common to all entrepreneurs, the immigrant entrepreneur has an additional set of challenges. This article describes those challenges in the immigrant entrepreneurial experience in the Swedish agri-food industry. A qualitative research design is used. Interviews were conducted with 25 immigrant entrepreneurs who planned a business, had started a business, or had exited a business. Various websites and tax reports provided secondary data. The research, which covered a two-year time frame, identifies the strategies and actions the immigrant entrepreneurs adopted and used to try to overcome those challenges. The following strategies and actions were identified: use of business support, virtual embeddedness, family and ethnic groups, entrepreneurial experience, and niche markets. The companies in which the entrepreneurs recognized the gravity of those challenges early in their life cycle were more likely to survive beyond the start-up phase. The article, which also reviews much of the current literature on immigrant entrepreneurship, has implications for business support advisory services and policymakers who are involved in the effort to achieve economic (and social-cultural) integration of immigrants into their host countries.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uǧur Yetkin ◽  
Deniz Tunçalp

Purpose This paper aims to review the immigrant entrepreneurship literature to locate how researchers consider embeddedness to home and host countries beyond the “embedded” or “not” dichotomy. Design/methodology/approach The paper conducts a systematic literature review. The authors found 106 articles in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, using a structured search and selection protocol. Findings Few articles perceive embeddedness openly as a gradual phenomenon. However, articles in the review use different approaches for considering relative levels of embeddedness, such as depth of social ties. In addition, some articles take a dual perspective or make multi-contextual comparisons to acknowledge immigrant entrepreneurs’ embeddedness levels. These articles emphasise embeddedness as a gradual phenomenon to understand the complexity of immigrant entrepreneurs’ contextualisation better. Based on the review, the paper develops a model, considering embeddedness as an emergent result of the immigrants’ engagement with spaces, networks, markets and institutions of a given home or host context. It also accounts for the dynamic interaction between contextual factors as embeddedness levels change. Research limitations/implications The paper has located all relevant papers in the used databases. However, the systematic review protocol naturally limits its scope. Nevertheless, the developed model based on the review helps researchers develop a more comprehensive understanding of embeddedness and possibly ask novel questions. Social implications This paper can help policymakers improve their policies for the progressive social integration of immigrants, as it helps consider different embeddedness levels. Originality/value Researchers mainly consider individuals’ embeddedness as either “embedded” or “not.” However, we can also understand embeddedness at various levels, e.g. partial, increasing/decreasing and gradual. Significant changes occur in the embeddedness of individuals during immigration. Additionally, contextual relations intertwine immigrants’ entrepreneurial activity over time. The paper reviews embeddedness in the immigrant entrepreneurship literature, searching beyond the dichotomic use of embeddedness. Then, it develops a theoretical understanding of embeddedness levels.


Author(s):  
Chibwe Chisala

This chapter enriches the knowledge base on immigrant entrepreneurship and outlines the critical role immigrant entrepreneurs play in socio-economic settings of African communities. It particularly investigates the contributions of immigrant entrepreneurship to Zambia's economic development. The chapter is anchored on the embedded mixed theory and an African humanist philosophy of Ubuntu. It tries to change the perception of the native citizens towards immigrants as such, avert the social challenges that immigrants encounter in host countries such as xenophobia or afrophobia. By employing a qualitative methodology approach, the chapter argues that immigrant entrepreneurs have had a positive impact on Zambia's socio-economic development through the creation of jobs, transfer of skills and competences. The chapter recommends that immigrant entrepreneurship should be supported and mainstreamed into national economic development policies of African countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamizah Abd Hamid ◽  
Abu Hanifah Ayob ◽  
Farhana Sidek ◽  
Zizah Che Senik

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to explore the way immigrant entrepreneurs (IEs) capture transnational opportunities in their home and host countries. Through an identity lens, this study adopts a qualitative approach in examining transnational entrepreneurship activities conducted by IEs from three countries (Indonesia, Pakistan and South Korea [henceforth Korea]) in one host country (Malaysia). The findings indicate that IEs’ home-host country identities enable them to recognize and exploit entrepreneurial opportunities in multiple countries through unique resources difficult to be imitated by competitors in their home and host countries. This paper contributes to the international entrepreneurship literature by introducing an identity-sensitive model of immigrant entrepreneurship in transnational spaces which will be useful for policy and practice concerning trade and migration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanction Madambi

The migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa is shaped by several factors and processes. Traditionally, the decision to migrate was mostly based on family considerations (where gender stereotypic roles were a priority), although in some cases the migrants exercised individualism and personal agency. This led to migration trends that were male dominated. Current Zimbabwean migration trends reflect large volumes of women as the socio-economic crisis forces them to leave their country. These migrant women encounter a myriad of challenges in their host countries. This paper explores Zimbabwean women’s migration to the town of Mthatha in South Africa, highlighting their challenges and the strategies they employ to overcome these, as found in a recent case study. Applying a qualitative research design and using questionnaires and interviews to gather data from the 100 purposively sampled women, the study found that many Zimbabwean migrant women in Mthatha encountered numerous challenges. They lacked the required documents to live and work in South Africa, experienced exploitation and marriage constraints, and had broken ties with their families back in Zimbabwe. According to the study, these women managed to navigate these challenges, rising above the stereotypic norms and values that used to label them as non-productive citizens to superheroes who were supporting their families and the country’s economy—thus breaking the shackles of gender stereotyping to create new norms. These findings underline the importance of shifting from the traditional approaches to women migration and pursuing perspectives that present migration as a critical component of the process of social change and development to all migrants.


Agrotek ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fitryanti Pakiding ◽  
Dariani Matualage

<em>The State University of Papua (UNIPA) provides human resources for agricultural sector in Tanah Papua through the Department of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology (FAPERTEK). However, in the process of generating these human capitals, many of its alumni could not finish their study within the targeted time frame designed by curriculum used in this department. Thus, this research aims for understanding factors that influencing the study time of FAPERTEK-UNIPA�s alumni. Study time data was obtained through a census from secondary data whereas evaluation of the study time was conducted through a survey to alumni. The evaluation was focus on two sub-systems:� student and the interaction between students and faculties. The result shows that in general alumni at the bachelor (S-1) level and at the diploma (D-3) level finished their study more than 10 semesters and 7 semesters consecutively. Financial problem, difficult and lengthy research topic, communication problem with advisor, many re-taking classes, health problem as well as personal problems were among the reasons for those alumni whose study time exceeds the minimum time as indicated by the curriculum. Academic advisors who are expected to assist students to be able to finish their study within the allotted time have not performed efficiently according to some of respondents. Information provides through this research is expected to be beneficial for enhancing current and future education system in this department.</em>


Author(s):  
Richard McCleary ◽  
David McDowall ◽  
Bradley J. Bartos

Chapter 8 focuses on threats to construct validity arising from the left-hand side time series and the right-hand side intervention model. Construct validity is limited to questions of whether an observed effect can be generalized to alternative cause and effect measures. The “talking out” self-injurious behavior time series, shown in Chapter 5, are examples of primary data. Researchers often have no choice but to use secondary data that were collected by third parties for purposes unrelated to any hypothesis test. Even in those less-than-ideal instances, however, an optimal time series can be constructed by limiting the time frame and otherwise paying attention to regime changes. Threats to construct validity that arise from the right-hand side intervention model, such as fuzzy or unclear onset and responses, are controlled by paying close attention to the underlying theory. Even a minimal theory should specify the onset and duration of an impact.


Author(s):  
Bryan Malki ◽  
Timur Uman ◽  
Daniel Pittino

AbstractThere is an increasing interest in the phenomenon of immigrant entrepreneurship. Despite the growing number of studies, the financing aspect of immigrant entrepreneurship is still an emergent subject. In this paper, we critically and systematically review the field of the entrepreneurial financing of immigrant entrepreneurs. For this purpose, we conduct a two-step analysis of 37 systematically selected articles. In the first step, we provide an overall description of the field, while in the second step we perform a SWOT analysis on different aspects of the field, including the units of analysis, the main questions, and the use of theories and methods in the field. The review identifies gaps and weaknesses in the field, suggests potential opportunities for future research, and highlights some threats that could impede the implementation of future opportunities. Finally, the review suggests further questions to be explored for future advancement of knowledge in the field.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Olufemi Muibi Omisakin

Entrepreneurship is an important concept in both developing and developed societies today. Although there is no consensus on the definition of entrepreneurship, it is believed to be a process of creating value by bringing together a unique package of resources to exploit entrepreneurship opportunities (Morris, 2002). This study aims to discover the economic contributions and challenges of immigrant entrepreneurs to their host country, and focuses on African small business owners in Auckland, New Zealand. Literature on immigrant entrepreneurship was reviewed, resulting in a discussion of the economic contributions of immigrant entrepreneurship as well as its challenges. Data was collected using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews, observation and field notes as the sources of inquiry. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 17 participants. All participants were African immigrant small business owners running businesses in Auckland. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected (Braun & Clarke, 2006). 


Author(s):  
Lekha Kunju Pillai Laxman

The ASEAN region's potential ability to reap the benefits of e-commerce is considerable, and it is timely to strategize a sustainable pathway for ASEAN's e-commerce market. This chapter explores the arising legal and regulatory challenges with measures needed to facilitate e-commerce activities in the region. A qualitative research design is utilized to review secondary data and analyze ASEAN's current legal and regulatory framework. The findings reveal that despite the untapped potential of the collectively large “ASEAN market,” there are significant challenges to developing e-commerce in some countries. Moreover, there are additional regulatory challenges in tackling a myriad of issues related to cross-border challenges in terms of security and reliability of payments: logistics, customs and border administration, foreign market access, data protection, and the regulatory environment for national and cross-border e-commerce transactions. Some form of legal and regulatory harmonization is required between member nations in order to mutually reap the benefits of e-commerce.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diya Das ◽  
Eileen Kwesiga ◽  
Shruti Sardesmukh ◽  
Norma Juma

Immigrant groups often pursue entrepreneurial endeavors in their new home country. Even though both immigrant entrepreneurship and organizational identity have received scholarly attention, there has been little systematic exploration of identity strategies pursued by immigrant-owned organizations. In this article, we develop a theoretical framework that draws on the concepts of liability of foreignness and social identity theory in the context of immigrant entrepreneurship. Our framework explores how immigrant entrepreneurs may negotiate identities for their firms through the development of specific identity strategies that confirm or underplay their national/ethnic identities in order to survive in their immediate environment. We develop a model that shows how these confirmations or underplaying strategies work both for firms that have an individualistic entrepreneurial orientation, as well as those with a collective/associative entrepreneurial orientation. We also suggest two contextual moderators to this relationship: (1) the image of the founder's country of origin, and (2) the presence of immigrant networks in the host country, which may alter the effectiveness of identity strategies in terms of organizational mortality outcomes.


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