National Center of Competence in Research – The Migration-Mobility Nexus
Yvonne Riaño and Etienne Piguet
Migrant Entrepreneurship: Mapping Cross-Border Mobilities and Exploring the Role of Spatial Mobility Capital
Project Summary
Social and technological transformations, including highly diversified migrant populations and facilitated international travel and communication, have intensified the phenomenon of cross-border migrant entrepreneurship. Studying cross-border migrant entrepreneurship offers a unique opportunity to understand the shift from long-term and permanent migration to increasingly more temporary and fluid mobilities, thus advancing our empirical and theoretical understanding of the Migration-Mobility Nexus.
This project maps the diverse cross-border mobilities of first-generation migrant entrepreneurs and examines whether spatial mobility constitutes an asset or not for migrant entrepreneurship, and under what conditions. It uses mixed methods, including case studies from Switzerland, Spain, and South America, to explore the different capacities for spatial mobility among migrant entrepreneurs. We also question whether and how spatial mobility can be transformed into social and economic capital.
The cross-border engagement of migrant entrepreneurs often transcends the home – host country binary.
Spatial mobility can only be considered an asset for migrant entrepreneurs if they are in control of their (im)mobilities, if such (im)mobilities match their socioeconomic needs and personal aspirations, and if they can move safely.
Social position, location in geographical space, and strategies are three crucial dimensions to understand the ability of migrant entrepreneurs to transform their spatial mobility into social mobility.
Diverse strategies (informal, digital, transmobilities) enable migrant entrepreneurs to overcome constraints and expand their options over time.
The aspirations of migrant entrepreneurs are not merely financially motivated: personal fulfillment, reconciling family and paid work, aiding home countries or communities, and resisting armed violence are important motivators.
