Choice of a country for migrant entrepreneurship

Abstract

In today’s society, entrepreneurial activities are important, as they can create social values and wealth. This study explores entrepreneurial activities across various European countries and proposes a novel approach for its effective measurement. To this end, this study utilizes established indices by the World Bank - the 2020 European Chamber (EuCham) index, and the migrant integration policy index (MIPEX), which focuses on migrant integration. In addition, it introduces a novel index, called the Migrant Entrepreneurship (IMIGRENT) index, to accurately quantify a country’s attractiveness for entrepreneurial activities. These are part of the respective indexes for entrepreneurial activities, such as company registration processes, personal affairs, accommodation, and environmental conditions. A country’s attractiveness for entrepreneurial activities is evaluated based on entrepreneurs’ preferences and diverse needs, as well as immigrants’ citizenship. After comparing the three indices mentioned above, more similar results are obtained for the 2020 EuCham and the IMIGRENT index than MIPEX, attributable to the greater importance given to financial factors in the IMIGRENT and EuCham indexes compared with MIPEX, which prioritizes social and integration-related factors. Notably, the IMIGRENT index reports some important additional values in a comparative analysis of European countries, such as the role of immigrant citizenship, and the country’s legislation, as well as other aspects related to personal affairs, accommodation, social services, or the host country’s weather.

Keywords

Migration / Entrepreneurship / Immigrant integration / Business attractiveness / 2020 European chamber index / Migrant integration policy index

Funding

This work is financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Universities and the Next Generation EU Program.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

References

[1] Calviño F. (2022). Entrepreneur:3 Core Traits for Success in Europe! Crossborder Magazine. Available from: https://cross-border-magazine.com/entrepreneur-3-core-traits-for-success-in-europe. [2024 Jul 01]

[2] Campion E. (2018). The career adaptive refugee: Exploring the structural and personal barriers to refugee resettlement. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 105:6-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2017.10.008

[3] Dabić M., Vlačić B., Paul, J., Dana, L., Sahasranamam, S., & Glinka, B. (2020). Immigrant entrepreneurship: A review and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 113:25-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.03.013

[4] Desiderio M.V. (2014). Policies to Support Immigrant Entrepreneurship. Report of the Migration Policy Institute. Available from: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/policies-support-immigrant-entrepreneurship. [2024 Jul 01]

[5] EU Protection. (2022). Ukraine: Council Unanimously Introduces Temporary Protection for Persons Fleeing the War. European Consilium Report. Council of the EU. Available from: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/03/04/ukraine-council-introduces-temporary-protection-for-persons-fleeing-the-war. [2024 Jul 01]

[6] EUCHAM. (2020). Best European Countries for Business 2020. European Chamber Report. Available from: https://eucham.eu/best-european-countries-for-business-2020. [2024 Jul 01]

[7] Eurostat. (2023). Immigration. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/migr_imm1ctz__custom_900456/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkid=82bf2523-a514-4caa-9cfc-88c060f91729. [2024 Jul 01]

[8] Expat Insider. (2022). Hospitable or Hostile? The Ease of Settling in Index. Available from: https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2022/ease-of-settling-in-index-40244#:-:text=the%20ease%20of%20settling%20in%20index%20is%20based%20on%20three,their%20friendliness%20towards%20foreign%20residents. [2024 Jul 01]

[9] Fairlie R.W., & Krashinsky H.A. (2006, 2012). Liquidity constraints, household wealth, and entrepreneurship revisited. Review of Income and Wealth, 58(2):279-306. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4991.2011.00491.x

[10] Giambronelaw. (2024). Specific Expert Site with Information on Spanish Company Registration and ownership. Available from: https://www.giambronelaw.es/site/articulos/registro-de-sociedad-en-espana-para-un-empresario-no-residente. [2024 Jul 01]

[11] Hynes P. (2011). The Dispersal and Social Exclusion of Asylum Seekers: Between Liminality and Belonging. Bristol: Policy Press.

[12] Idealista. (2024). Main Site for Spanish Immovable Properties. Available from: https://www.idealista.com. [2024 Jul 01]

[13] ILO. (2013). Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013: A Generation at Risk. Geneva: International Labour Office.

[14] Karren N. (2024). How Do Immigration and Technological Growth Affect One Another? USA: Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University. Available from: https://www.thecgo.org/research/how-do-immigration-and-technological-growth-affect-one-another. [2024 Jul 01]

[15] Kristina and Support Adventure. (2022). The Easiest Countries to Start a Business in Europe for Foreigners. Support Adventure. Available from: https://www.supportadventure.com/the-easiest-countries-to-start-a-business-in-europe-for-foreigners [2024 Apr 12]

[16] Kushida K. (2024). The Silicon Valley Model and Technological Trajectories in Context. Cernegie Endowment for International Peace. Available from: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/01/the-silicon-valley-model-and-technological-trajectories-in-context?lang=en. [2024 Jul 01]

[17] Min_Economia_ES. (2024). Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa. Available from: https://portal.mineco.gob.es/es-es/paginas/index.aspx. [2024 Jul 01]

[18] Min_Interior_ES. (2024). Ministerio del Interior. Available from: https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/inicio. [2024 Jul 01]

[19] Min_Seg_Social_ES. (2024). Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones. Available from: https://www.seg-social.es/wps/portal/wss/internet/Trabajadores/PrestacionesPensionesTrabajadores. [2024 Jul 01]

[20] Newman A., Macaulay L., & Dunwoodie K. (2024). Refugee entrepreneurship: A systematic review of prior research and agenda for future research. International Migration Review, 58(3):1140-1171. https://doi.org/10.1177/01979183231182669

[21] OECD, and European Union. (2015). Indicators of Immigrant Integration:Settling In. Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264234024-en

[22] OECD. (2018). Indicators of Immigrant Integration. OECD Library. Available from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/9789264307216-7-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/9789264307216-7-en. [2024 Jul 01]

[23] Ram M., Jones T., & Villares-Varela M. (2017). Migrant entrepreneurship: Reflections on research and practice. International Small Business Journal, 35(1):3-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242616678051

[24] Rath J., & Schutjens V. (2016). Migrant entrepreneurship:Alterlocal paradigms of economic integration. In: TriandafyllidouA. (Oxon,ed.). Routledge Handbook of Immigration and Refugee Studies. Abingdon, New York: Routledge, p. 96-103.

[25] Sede Policía. (2024). Spanish Main Police Department, Available from: https://sede.policia.gob.es/portalCiudadano/_es/tramites_extranjeria.php#. [2024 Jul 01]

[26] Solano G., & Huddleston T. (2020). Migrant Integration Policy Index 2020. Barcelona/Brussels: CIDOB and MPG. Available from: https://www.mipex.eu. [2024 Jul 01]

[27] G., Ram, M., & Rath J. (2023). Regulation of migrant entrepreneurship: The strained conjunction of laws, policies and practices. International Migration, 61(2):3-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.13128

[28] Solano G., Wolffhardt A., & Xhani A. (2019). Measures to Support Early-stage Migrant Entrepreneurs. MEGA Report. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/mega-handbook-measures-support-migrant-entrepreneurs_en. [2024 Jul 01]

[29] STATISTA. (2018). Europe’s Biggest Foreign-Born Communities. Available from: https://www.statista.com/chart/13064/europes-biggest-foreign-born-communities. [2024 Jul 01]

[30] Suder G. (2007). Doing Business in Europe. Washington, DC: Sage Publishing.

[31] Taddei L., & Solano G. (2020). Immigrant entrepreneurship in Europe, A comparative analysis of trends in the member states of the European Union. In: Centro Studi e Ricerche IDOS. (ed.). Report on Immigration and Entrepreneurship 2019-2020. Rome: IDOS, p. 7-17.

[32] UNCTAD. (2018). Policy Guide on Entrepreneurship for Migrants and Refugees. New York:United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Available from: https://unctad.org/publication/policy-guide-entrepreneurship-migrants-and-refugees. [2024 Jul 01]

[33] UNHCR EU-UA. (2023). Operational Data Portal. Ukraine Refugee Situation. UNHCR Report. Available from: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine. [2024 Jul 01]

[34] Vandor P. (2021). Why Immigrants Are More Likely to Become Entrepreneurs. Harvard Business Review. Available from: https://hbr.org/2021/08/research-why-immigrants-are-more-likely-to-become-entrepreneurs. [2024 Jul 01]

[35] Wellalage N.H., Fernandez V., & Bui T. (2023). Immigration and entrepreneurship: Is there a uniform relationship across countries? International Review of Economics & Finance, 85:270-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2023.01.010

[36] WMO. (2024). World Weather Information Service. Available from: https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/home.html. [2024 Jul 01]

[37] WMR. (2022). World Migration Report 2022. IOM Publications Platforms. Available from: https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2022. [2024 Jul 01]