Entrepreneurship in population with immigrant origin: local and transnational ties existing in mature and innovative markets

This paper touches upon the topic of migrant entrepreneurship and their social networks at a local and transnational level. In a scenario where it is assumed that immigrants arrive into a host society in search of employment, the scholarship of entrepreneurs with migrant-origin persons is a topic to be exposed. Using literature focused on characterizing immigrants as job-seekers and potential employees, a contrast will be found with literature about ethnic entrepreneurship in mature markets and the innovation of start-ups, stressing a comparison between the local configuration of ties and the transnational connections. In consequence, this paper helps to explain the phenomenon of entrepreneurship as a form of incorporation of migrant-origin individuals into a host-economical environment. The research question for this paper is how do migrant entrepreneurs make use of their connections at local, national and international levels to acquire resources and ideas for their business, comparing mature market ideas and start-ups models? The analysis is sustained on the idea of embeddedness of economic activities in social relations as well as the transnational perspective on migration flows and social ties in sending and receiving countries. This paper is the first part of a larger research where empirical findings will identify and measure the networks of immigrant entrepreneurs comparing two different territories: using in-depth interviews to collect data with migrant-origin entrepreneurs to understand the flow of funds, the match with partners and customers, the hiring of employees and the compliance to existing legal and financial rules.