Are voluntary international migrants self-selected for entrepreneurship? An analysis of entrepreneurial personality traits

Peter Vandor

Journal of World Business, 2021, vol. 56, issue 2

Abstract: In many countries, international migrants show a high tendency to become entrepreneurs. In the literature this has often been attributed to discrimination, ethnic networks, and sociodemographic differences. This paper examines a new explanation and argues that voluntary international migrants have a more entrepreneurial personality as a result of self-selection. An analysis of intentions, preparatory actions (n = 1,385) and long-term actions (n = 360) of skilled migrants and non-migrants confirms this hypothesis. It suggests that the relationship between voluntary international migration and entrepreneurship is mediated by a greater willingness to take risks and, to some extent, by a greater need for achievement.

Keywords: Migrant entrepreneurship; international entrepreneurship; ethnic entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial personality; international migration; risk taking; need for achievement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:worbus:v:56:y:2021:i:2:s1090951620300705

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DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2020.101142

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