The Role of Diaspora Entrepreneurship in Economic Integration of Diasporans in the Polish Context

Abstract

This explorative study tries to shed some light on the linkage between diasporan self-employment, diaspora transnational activities (and diaspora entrepreneurship in particular) and diasporan economic integration. We take advantage of the unique pilot sample of 200 immigrants with permanent residence status who work or/and conduct business activities in Małopolska, an administrative region in southern Poland. Due to the different cultural background and migrant trajectories of the respondents (immigrants originating from Armenia, the Middle East and North Africa/MENA countries, Ukraine and Vietnam), a rich questionnaire which contains detailed information on economic integration and transnational activities and complementary information collected through in-depth interviews and focus interviews, we are able to test some initial propositions on the role that diaspora entrepreneurship plays in the economic integration of diasporans in a host country.