Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immigrant Entrepreneurship and Dynamics of Being (Dis)Advantaged: An Exploratory Multi-Case Study of Eastern European Origin Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the Nordic Context

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Disadvantaged Minorities in Business

Part of the book series: Contributions to Management Science ((MANAGEMENT SC.))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the interlink between immigrant entrepreneurs, the gig economy, and the dynamics of being (dis)advantaged in a developed European economy’s (Denmark) context. Based on in-depth qualitative case studies of eight (8) gig economy entrepreneurs originally from Eastern European countries Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia, we found that being (dis)advantaged immigrant entrepreneurs is not that black and white phenomenon. We further found that most entrepreneurial ventures were started due to the inability of the immigrant to find a job in the area of his study or interest, mostly due to barriers to entry into the labor market. Significant differences in the dynamics of being disadvantaged based on sector of gig economy operations, where in highly skilled sectors, this phenomenon was less visible. We also found that ease of doing business in Denmark and available help for entrepreneurship played a key role in the start and later growth of gig economy entrepreneurial ventures of these immigrant entrepreneurs. Finally, the case respondents highlighted that despite certain prejudices that may lead to a disadvantaged position, language skills, as well as a supportive institutional framework, play an important role in diluting those influences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aliaga-Isla, R., & Rialp, A. (2013). Systematic review of immigrant entrepreneurship literature: Previous findings and ways forward. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 25(9–10), 819–844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, H. T. (2019). Governing European cities: Social fragmentation. Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson, P., & Wadensjö, E. (2004). Self-employed immigrants in Denmark and Sweden: A way to economic self-reliance? (No. 1130). IZA Discussion Papers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson J. P., & Wadensjö, E. (2013). The best and the brightest or the least successful? Self-employment entry among male wage-earners in Sweden. Small Business Economics, 40(1), 155–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arslan, A., Ruman, A., Hurmelinna-Laukkanen, P., & Ali, T. (2021). Varieties of capitalism and the base of pyramid population segment in affluent economies: Discussion on entrepreneurship financing and skill development dynamics. In S. Gold et al. (Eds.), Base of the pyramid Markets in Affluent Economies: Innovation and challenges to sustainability. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baklanov, N., Rezaei, S., Vang, J., & Dana, L. P. (2014). Migrant entrepreneurship, economic activity and export performance: Mapping the Danish trends. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 23(1–2), 63–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beicht, U., & Walden, G. (2019). Transition to company-based vocational training in Germany by young people from a migrant background–the influence of region of origin and generation status. International journal for research in vocational education and training, 6(1), 20–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blume, K., Ejrnæs, M., Nielsen, H. S., & Würtz, A. (2008). Labor market transitions of immigrants with emphasis on marginalization and self-employment. Journal of Population Economics, 22(4), 881–908.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, C. (2019). Will the gig economy prevail? John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dabić, M., Vlačić, B., Paul, J., Dana, L. P., Sahasranamam, S., & Glinka, B. (2020). Immigrant entrepreneurship: A review and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 113, 25–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desiderio, M. V. (2014). Policies to support immigrant entrepreneurship. Migration Policy Institute and Transatlantic Council on Migration. Available online at https://www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/TCM_Cities_Entrepreneurship-FINALWEB.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • De Wilde, P., Koopmans, R., Merkel, W., & Zürn, M. (2019). The struggle over borders: Cosmopolitanism and communitarianism. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dickey, H., Drinkwater, S., & Shubin, S. (2018). Labour market and social integration of eastern European migrants in Scotland and Portugal. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 50(6), 1250–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fauri, F., Mantovani, D., & Strangio, D. (2020). Economic and social perspectives on European migration. Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gligor, D. M., Esmark, C. L., & Gölgeci, I. (2016). Building international business theory: A grounded theory approach. Journal of International Business Studies, 47(1), 93–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guercini, S., Milanesi, M., & Dei Ottati, G. (2017). Paths of evolution for the Chinese migrant entrepreneurship: A multiple case analysis in Italy. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 15(3), 266–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gurău, C., Dana, L. P., & Light, I. (2020). Overcoming the liability of foreignness: A typology and model of immigrant entrepreneurs. European Management Review, 17(3), 701–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haq, M., Johanson, M., Davies, J., Dana, L. P., & Budhathoki, T. (2021). Compassionate customer service in ethnic minority microbusinesses. Journal of Business Research, 126, 279–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinikoski, S. (2020). The history and politics of free movement within the European Union: European Borders of justice. Bloomsbury Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ketokivi, M., & Choi, T. (2014). Renaissance of case research as a scientific method. Journal of Operations Management, 32(5), 232–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lafleur, J. M., & Stanek, M. (2017). South-north migration of EU citizens in times of crisis (p. 224). Springer Nature.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Light, I., Rezaei, S., & Dana, L. P. (2013). Ethnic minority entrepreneurs in the international carpet trade: An empirical study. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 18(2), 125–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, J. A. (2002). Understanding and validity in qualitative research. In A. M. Huberman & M. B. Miles (Eds.), The qualitative Researcher’s companion (p. 37). Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Sage Publications, Incorporated.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD iLibrary. (2020). International migration outlook 2020. Available online. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/dd716f70-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/dd716f70-en

  • Olwig, K. F. (2013). ‘Integration’: Migrants and refugees between Scandinavian welfare societies and family relations. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prassl, J. (2018). Humans as a service: The promise and perils of work in the gig economy. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ramadani, V., Dana, L. P., Ratten, V., & Bexheti, A. (2019). Informal ethnic entrepreneurship: Future research paradigms for creating innovative business activity. Springer International Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rezaei, S., Goli, M., & Dana, L. P. (2013). Informal opportunity among SMEs: An empirical study of Denmark’s underground economy. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 19(1), 64–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, D. W., & Grant, P. R. (2016). Immigrant entrepreneurship from a social psychological perspective. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 46(7), 394–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholten, P. W. A., & van Breugel, I. (2017). Mainstreaming integration governance: New trends in migrant integration policies in Europe. Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solano, G., Wolffhardt, A., & Xhani, A. (2019). Measures to support early-stage migrant entrepreneurs. MEGA Handbook.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spear, R., Defourny, J., & Laville, J. L. (2019). Tackling social exclusion in Europe: The contribution of the social economy. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spurk, D., & Straub, C. (2020). Flexible employment relationships and careers in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 119, 103435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, C. A. (2002). Qualitative interviewing. In J. F. Gubrium & J. A. Holstein (Eds.), Handbook of interview research: Context and method. Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, G. J., Davidson, M. J., & Fielden, S. L. (2012). Minorities in entrepreneurship: An international review. Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study research: Design and methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications, Incorporated.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Development & Technology, Aarhus University, Herning, Denmark

    Veronika Kentosová

  2. Independent Post-doctoral Researcher, Vaasa, Finland

    Nasib Al-Nabulsi

  3. Department of Marketing, Management & International Business, Oulu Business School, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Ahmad Arslan

  4. Department of Business Development & Technology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Ismail Golgeci

Authors
  1. Veronika Kentosová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nasib Al-Nabulsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ahmad Arslan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ismail Golgeci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Veronika Kentosová .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Léo-Paul Dana

  2. ICD Business School, Paris, France

    Nada Khachlouf

  3. IPAG Business School, Paris, France

    Adnane Maâlaoui

  4. Department of Management and Marketing, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Vanessa Ratten

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kentosová, V., Al-Nabulsi, N., Arslan, A., Golgeci, I. (2022). Immigrant Entrepreneurship and Dynamics of Being (Dis)Advantaged: An Exploratory Multi-Case Study of Eastern European Origin Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the Nordic Context. In: Dana, LP., Khachlouf, N., Maâlaoui, A., Ratten, V. (eds) Disadvantaged Minorities in Business. Contributions to Management Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97079-6_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation