Self-Employment

Abstract

This chapter explores migrant entrepreneurship through an intergenerational examination of self-employment. In Europe and North America, certain migrant or ethnic groups are known to engage in businesses in large or growing numbers, often disproportionately to their group size. For example, Turks in Europe, especially the second generation, have increased their participation in self-employment since the economic crisis of the mid-1970s to avoid unemployment (Abadan-Unat 2011; Avcı 2006, Erichsen and Şen 1987; Toksöz 2006; Wets 2006). Some scholars view these developments in a positive light. They regard migrant entrepreneurship as a significant path to economic success, resulting from favourable self-selection (Chiswick 1986). According to the view of positive selectivity, migrants, especially those who move for economic reasons and settle in the host country, are favourably selected in terms of motivation, ability and other broadly defined skills. These translate into the motivation and personal and social resources required to develop businesses. Others, however, are more reserved, emphasising the role of discrimination and disadvantage in pushing migrants into self-employment, with negative implications for social mobility and adaptation into the host society (e.g. Abadan-Ünat 2011; Light 1972).