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Diversity, economic development and new migrant entrepreneurs

Author

Listed:
  • Trevor Jones

    (University of Birmingham, UK)

  • Monder Ram

    (University of Birmingham, UK)

  • Maria Villares-Varela

    (University of Southatmpton, UK)

Abstract

How do migrant entrepreneurs contribute to economic development? The growing attention to the contribution that migrants make tends to be skewed towards their economic role. Drawing on interviews with 49 new migrant business owners and 60 workers in the West Midlands, UK, we argue that benefits of diversity should be explored beyond the economic dividend. We engage with key theoretical developments in the fields of migrant entrepreneurship and diversity economics, and show that migrant entrepreneurs are characterised by the polarisation of their performance between high fliers and survival entrepreneurs. Despite their overall resource poverty, migrant entrepreneurs on the lower level create employment for their locality, cater to community needs and cushion the social incorporation of new communities in British society. We argue that debates around the benefits of diversity should incorporate not only economic growth, but also its impact on social processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Trevor Jones & Monder Ram & Maria Villares-Varela, 2019. "Diversity, economic development and new migrant entrepreneurs," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(5), pages 960-976, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:56:y:2019:i:5:p:960-976
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098018765382
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bryan Malki & Timur Uman & Daniel Pittino, 2022. "The entrepreneurial financing of the immigrant entrepreneurs: a literature review," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(3), pages 1337-1365, March.
    2. Hartmann Carina & Philipp Ralf, 2022. "Lost in space? Refugee Entrepreneurship and Cultural Diversity in Spatial Contexts," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 66(3), pages 151-171, October.
    3. Hongjun Guan & Zhen Zhang & Aiwu Zhao & Jinyuan Jia & Shuang Guan, 2019. "Research on Innovation Behavior and Performance of New Generation Entrepreneur Based on Grounded Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Ozgur Ozmen & Raluca Mariana Grosu & Mariana Dragusin, 2021. "Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Romania: Drawing Best Practices From Middle Eastern Immigrant Entrepreneurs’ Experiences," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 23(56), pages 260-260, February.

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