Immigrants' Entrepreneurial Opportunities:  The Case of the Chinese in Portugal

Oliveira, Catarina Sales

doi:10.2139/ssrn.464682

Cited by 2 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In the year 2000, a report of the national public office for employment publicized the labour shortages, which are concentrated in the construction, restaurants, hotels, and retail commerce sectors. These are exactly the same sectors in which immigrant entrepreneurs appear to invest (de Oliveira 2003).…”

Section: Portugalmentioning

confidence: 86%

Characteristics of migrant entrepreneurship in Europe

Baycan-Levent

Nijkamp

2009

Entrepreneurship & Regional Development

145

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The present paper aims to investigate and compare various modalities of migrant entrepreneurship in European countries in order to design a systematic classification of migrant entrepreneurship and to highlight key factors of migrant entrepreneurship in Europe. The paper is based on a comparative assessment of available quantitative data and qualitative information derived from a broad review of findings from previous studies in the literature. Our quantitative evaluation includes the European OECD countries, while our qualitative investigation addresses migrant entrepreneurship experiences in eight European countries: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the UK. The results of our comparative analysis show that the general picture of European migrant entrepreneurship is determined by some distinct push factors such as high unemployment rates and low participation rates or low status in the labour market as well as by an accompanying factor, namely mixed embeddedness. The results of our comparative evaluation are summarized in a systematic typological table. These show that, while an informal and labour-intensive sector, an underground economy, and small companies and traditional households prompt migrant entrepreneurship in Southern European countries, an over-representation of non-Western immigrants among the self-employed, as well as relatively lower income levels of self-employed immigrants compared to both self-employed natives and employed immigrants are decisive for migrant entrepreneurship in Northern European countries.

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Section: Portugalmentioning

confidence: 86%

Characteristics of migrant entrepreneurship in Europe

Baycan-Levent

Nijkamp

2009

Entrepreneurship & Regional Development

145

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“…Martim Moniz in Lisbon or Vila do Conde in Porto (Oliveira, 2003;Rodrigues, 2013). Whenever possible, they attended ethnic schools and religious activities, such as the Buddhism "Foguanghui" (Oliveira, 2003;Rodrigues, 2013).…”

Section: Chinese Self-initiated Expatriatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, the growth of the Chinese population in Europe and Portugal is significant and is expected to continue in the coming years (Benton and Pieke, 2016; Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras/SEF, 2021) being the seventh largest foreign community in Portugal in 2020 (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras/SEF, 2021). Second, research has examined the characteristics of Chinese residents in Portugal, emphasizing their high self-employment and concentration in the textile and catering industry (Gaspar, 2017; Oliveira, 2003), which means this is a group locally involved in diverse entrepreneurial ventures that is worth of further examination. Third, little is known about the lived experiences of the Chinese in Portugal, especially in coping with their multiple roles and local challenges (Gaspar, 2017; Oliveira, 2003; Rodrigues, 2013).…”

Section: Chinese “Expat-preneurs”: Understanding the Challenges Of Do...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, research has examined the characteristics of Chinese residents in Portugal, emphasizing their high self-employment and concentration in the textile and catering industry (Gaspar, 2017; Oliveira, 2003), which means this is a group locally involved in diverse entrepreneurial ventures that is worth of further examination. Third, little is known about the lived experiences of the Chinese in Portugal, especially in coping with their multiple roles and local challenges (Gaspar, 2017; Oliveira, 2003; Rodrigues, 2013). In fact, fewer studies examined the challenges arising from the decision to relocate independently to a country with interest in doing business (Benton and Pieke, 2016), such as those addressed in this study.…”

Section: Chinese “Expat-preneurs”: Understanding the Challenges Of Do...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, fewer studies examined the challenges arising from the decision to relocate independently to a country with interest in doing business (Benton and Pieke, 2016), such as those addressed in this study. Also, Oliveira (2003) urged researchers to further examine the “ability of Chinese entrepreneurs to draw on the inner resources of the ethnic group in order to achieve success in economic competition” (p. 14). Finally, prior expatriate research has rarely focused on this segment of SIEs (Vance et al ., 2017), and the existing migrant and ethnic entrepreneurship theories have shown difficulties accommodating the emerging trend of expat-preneurs (Girling and Bamwenda, 2018).…”

Section: Chinese “Expat-preneurs”: Understanding the Challenges Of Do...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The community of Chinese “expat-preneurs”: understanding the challenges of doing business abroad

Pinto

Fernandes

2023

JEC

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Purpose To date, research on migration and entrepreneurship has rarely focused expat-preneurs. Based on recent developments in both fields, this paper aims to investigate the under-researched phenomenon of Chinese self-initiated expatriates who choose to temporarily live and do business abroad on their own volition. Design/methodology/approach To address this research gap, 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Chinese expat-preneurs living in Portugal were conducted, exposing their narratives about their multiple challenges. Findings The findings corroborate the theoretical need to look beyond narrow economic explanations for why individuals engage in transnational entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial itinerancy. A collective identity and ethnic community are important because they influence how opportunities are identified and pursued. Research limitations/implications This is a qualitative and interpretative study in a limited geographical area, which does not intent to ensure generalizability. More research is needed to further understand the phenomenon of entrepreneurial itinerancy in Europe and among other ethnic communities. Practical implications The findings provide insightful inputs to Portuguese policymakers and locals on how to support ethnic entrepreneurship. Chinese expat-preneurs also benefit from understanding how to strength their ethnic social ties in connection with local communities. Originality/value This study contributes to the entrepreneurship and international mobility literatures by providing new insights into the nature and dynamics of Chinese “expat-preneurs”, including their entrepreneurial itinerancy, necessary to properly understand entrepreneurs’ diversity and assist in extending transnational entrepreneurial theory.

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Immigrants' Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Case of the Chinese in Portugal

Cited by 2 publications

References 31 publications

Characteristics of migrant entrepreneurship in Europe

Characteristics of migrant entrepreneurship in Europe

The community of Chinese “expat-preneurs”: understanding the challenges of doing business abroad

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