Journal Article

Refugee entrepreneurship motivations in Sweden and Germany: a comparative case study

Barth, Henrik, Zalkat, Ghazal, Rashid, Lubna

2024

Overview

Refugee entrepreneurs can make a significant contribution to sustainable growth and development in host countries. However, comprehensive comparative studies of refugee entrepreneurial motivations are scarce, particularly in the absence of a theoretical framework on entrepreneurship motivation that is suitable for such contexts. This is a research topic that is increasingly of interest to scholars and policymakers working with refugee workforce integration, particularly in light of forecasted increases in global forced displacement over the next years. This paper tests and extends newly constructed entrepreneurship motivation measures, comparing person-related factors and the perceptions of environmental-related factors for Syrian refugee entrepreneurs in Sweden and Germany. The results indicate that their motivations differ between the two countries with respect to market conditions, the educational environment, dissatisfaction, and know-how. However, refugee entrepreneurs in both countries have similar levels of entrepreneurial ambition and attitude and are motivated by similar perceptions of social environments and cultural norms. This paper identifies how entrepreneurship motivation differences could be considered by governments to better shape and inform host countries’ programs and policies to improve refugee entrepreneurship and subsequent integration.Plain English SummarySyrian refugees in Germany and Sweden differ in their motivation to pursue entrepreneurship, as evidenced by our comparative study, emphasizing the role of country context in shaping refugees’ perception of environmental factors that influence their entrepreneurial motivation. We find that Germany-based refugee entrepreneurs are more motivated by market structures and educational offerings, have more know-how, and were less prone to negative motivation resulting from experiencing dissatisfaction (e.g. due to discrimination or lack of opportunities) compared with Sweden-based refugee entrepreneurs. The results emphasize the importance of policy reforms and initiatives that provide financial, administrative, and legal assistance to refugee entrepreneurs as they start and establish their businesses, as well as specialized entrepreneurship training and education programs. We call for future research on inter-country evaluations of institutional differences and migrant integration programs as well as trans-border exchange of lessons learned and success stories, particularly in-light of prognosed increases in global forced displacement over the next years.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Administrative law / Ambition / Attitudes / Case studies / Comparative analysis / Comparative studies / Cultural differences / Cultural identity / Discontent / Discrimination / Economic growth / Education / Educational programs / Entrepreneurs / Entrepreneurship / Environmental aspects / Host country / Legal services / Markets / Migrants / Motivation / Plain language / Policy making / Reforms / Refugees / Relocation / Social norms / Social perception / Sustainable development / Workforce