Immigration and Entrepreneurship in the Americas: Drivers, Challenges and Local Economic Impact

Migration in the Americas continues unabated. Seeking to improve understanding of the complexity of this phenomenon, this book presents different approaches that are at the root of an immigrant-entrepreneur’s decision-making and the implementation of entrepreneurial activity in North and South America.

The cases presented provide a knowledge base upon which policymakers, government agencies, and the like can draw, providing a basis for comparison for other countries regarding how and why immigrants decide to become entrepreneurs, the challenges they face, and the contributions they make. In this sense, the book presents an overview of immigrant entrepreneurship in the Americas. The studies presented include the cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds behind the reasons for starting a business in the host community, as well as the factors that influence the choice of business area. Furthermore, it explores how this type of entrepreneur contributes to local and sustainable and economic development and will deepen the understanding of immigrants’ triggers for emigrating and for engaging in entrepreneurship in the host society. Based on the studies presented, it will offer guidelines regarding policies to support immigrant entrepreneurs, as well as to outline future research avenues.

This book will be an invaluable resource to researchers and scholars in the fields of immigration, immigrant entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial culture, and economic development.

Clara Margaça is an Assistant Professor at Lusofona University, Porto University Center, Portugal.

Andreas Walmsley is an Associate Professor in Business at Plymouth Marjon University, UK.

Helena Knörr is a Professor of Organizational Leadership at Point Park University and a Professor of Entrepreneurship at doinGlobal, a Global Leadership network, USA.