Migrant entrepreneurs as multi-developers? Tracing the potential and obstacles of migrant entrepreneurship - WiSe 2023
In popular portrayals of
host countries, migration is often viewed critically, even though migrants
occupy important positions in the labour market – no matter if they originally
entered as labour migrants or not. In sending countries, migration is often seen
even more critically, as it is associated with brain drain and the exodus of
the young, leaving behind the old and less able. In this seminar, we look at an
often-neglected group of migrants: those who create start-ups and businesses in
the country of immigration, but especially also in the countries of origin,
bringing back not only financial capital but also ideas and networks, thus
counteracting the general migration trend. What motivates migrants to start a
business, what is their recipe for success or why does it fail? In what ways do
migrants contribute to innovation and development - in the countries of origin
and host countries? To this end, the seminar aims to critically examine
financial and social remittances, the impact of asymmetric b/orders, concepts
of belonging, trust and family and other social networks, and general notions
of development and innovation. While South Eastern Europe will be the focus of
the case studies, we will also examine other migrants' countries of origin as
well as the impact of migrant entrepreneurship on receiving countries.
- Opettaja: Leutloff-Grandits Carolin