The Rise of Transnational Migrant Entrepreneurship: A Practice Theory Approach
摘要
The rise of transnational migrant entrepreneurship is a consequence of globalization, which has facilitated and accelerated the cross-country mobility of people. The phenomenon of migration has been intensified and increased its variety of forms in the last 30 years; however, most research still focuses on the situation of political or economic refugees, who may encounter specific challenges to integrate into the host society and work market. Without denying the existence of such barriers, migrants have an extremely valuable resource in today’s highly globalized market: the knowledge and experience of their market and culture. This resource may open potential business opportunities through their migration to another country. From this perspective, although many studies and integration policies focus exclusively on the acquisition of host-country knowledge and cultural integration of migrants, we propose that it is equally important for migrants to maintain a close connection with their personal and professional network from their home country. Achieving/maintaining competence in both the host and the home economy and culture creates entrepreneurial opportunities for transnational businesses. This specific form of expertise can be defined as a fifth form of capital—transnational capital. Transnational capital facilitates the creation, and contributes to the success, of multifocal transnational ventures.