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Exclude Me Not: The Untold Story of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Sweden

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  • Arash Kordestani

    (School of Business and Economics, Linnæus University, Växjö 351 95, Sweden)

  • Setayesh Sattari

    (School of Business and Economics, Linnæus University, Växjö 351 95, Sweden)

  • Kaveh Peighambari

    (School of Business and Economics, Linnæus University, Växjö 351 95, Sweden)

  • Pejvak Oghazi

    (School of Business and Economics, Linnæus University, Växjö 351 95, Sweden
    School of Social Sciences, Sodertorn University, Huddinge 141 89, Sweden)

Abstract

This article examines the perspectives of immigrant entrepreneurs on the barriers they face regarding their inclusion in public procurement in Sweden through the so-called supplier diversity programs. Drawing upon modern stakeholder theory and transaction cost economics, this study aims to identify potential barriers such entrepreneurs face in succeeding as suppliers to the public sector. Data were collected through interviews with immigrant entrepreneurs who had experience with the public procurement tender process in Sweden. The results reveal that immigrant entrepreneurs doing business with public procurement face several barriers, ranging from economic to social ones such as information, advertising, human resources, and undercapitalization. The interviewees believe that such barriers weaken their performance and hinder their success in public procurement tenders. When it comes to supplier diversity programs, the entrepreneurs under study were either unaware of such programs in public procurement in Sweden or did not believe in their effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Arash Kordestani & Setayesh Sattari & Kaveh Peighambari & Pejvak Oghazi, 2017. "Exclude Me Not: The Untold Story of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:9:p:1584-:d:111039
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    2. Gul Shah Sabary & Aleksandr Kljuènikov, 2023. "Barriers to immigrant entrepreneurship: A causal relationship analysis of the Asian immigrant entrepreneurs in Germany employing the DEMATEL approach," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 18(2), pages 491-522, June.
    3. Henrik Barth & Ghazal Zalkat, 2020. "Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Sweden: The Liability of Newness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-18, August.

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