Immigrants and the entrepreneurial process: cross-country evidence

Drawing from existing theories of immigrant entrepreneurship, I model the determinants of trust in innovation, entrepreneurial innovation, and collaborative networks of immigrant and nonimmigrant entrepreneurs. In addition, I analyze how the entrepreneurial decisions of first- and second-generation immigrants differ throughout the stages of the entrepreneurial process. Evidence from 70 countries suggests that business internationalization is essential for immigrant entrepreneurs to develop innovative products or services and establish business networks. Furthermore, immigrants may be more confident in innovation and establish more business relationships as early-stage entrepreneurs than non-immigrants. However, immigrants who export generally do not exhibit a greater propensity for job creation or business innovation than non-immigrants.