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Differences in international opportunity identification between native and immigrant entrepreneurs

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand more about how identification of international opportunities differs between native and immigrant entrepreneurs. Based on a survey of 116 immigrant and 864 native Norwegian entrepreneurs with newly registered firms, we show that immigrant entrepreneurs are more likely to identify international opportunities than native entrepreneurs are. We reveal important differences in the identification process between native and immigrant entrepreneurs. Whereas general human capital has a significant positive effect on international opportunity identification for native entrepreneurs, we cannot find the same effect among immigrant entrepreneurs. Moreover, although financial capital positively influences international opportunity identification among native entrepreneurs, the same effect is significantly negative among immigrant entrepreneurs. Based on these findings, we conclude that native and immigrant entrepreneurs do not utilise the same resources to identify international opportunities. This study contributes to the literature on international entrepreneurship by documenting significant differences in how native and immigrant entrepreneurs identify international opportunities. It also contributes to immigrant entrepreneurship literature by bringing the opportunity-based view of entrepreneurship into the field.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers. Their constructive criticism and suggestions were vital for improving this study.

The authors would like to thank the Research Council of Norway for funding at the data collection stage. Advice given by Editor Dr. Hamid Etemad and the anonymous reviewers has been a great help in improving this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nordland Research Institute, Pb. 1490, 8049, Bodø, Norway

    Evgueni Vinogradov

  2. School of Business and Economics, The arctic University of Norway, Follumsvei 39, Pb 1621, 9509, Alta, Norway

    Eva Jenny Benedikte Jørgensen

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  1. Evgueni Vinogradov
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Correspondence to Evgueni Vinogradov.

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Vinogradov, E., Jørgensen, E.J.B. Differences in international opportunity identification between native and immigrant entrepreneurs. J Int Entrep 15, 207–228 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-016-0197-5

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