Title: Is resistance futile? Acculturation and disadvantage theory in immigrant entrepreneurship

Authors: Gregory A. Laurence

Addresses: School of Management, University of Michigan, Flint, MI 48502, USA

Abstract: Entrepreneurial opportunity often has origins in demographic shifts, such as those caused by immigration, but disadvantage theory suggests that for cultural reasons, incongruence often exists between immigrants' economic aspirations, and the opportunities available in host countries. Thus, in the context of entrepreneurship, this paper investigates the acculturation strategies of immigrant entrepreneurs in their host countries and how these may manifest in entrepreneurial action. Berry's (1997) five acculturation strategies of integration, assimilation, separation/segregation, and marginalisation are considered. The paper also considers the influence of disadvantage theory and cross-vergence theory (Ralston et al., 1993a, 1993b) in strengthening and weakening the relationship between acculturation strategy and the foci of entrepreneurial ventures. Investigating the interaction between home and host country cultures, as manifest in entrepreneurial action, should provide a deeper understanding of immigrant populations' entrepreneurial experience. Implications for future research, policy, and practise are advanced and discussed.

Keywords: national culture; immigrant entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; acculturation strategies; disadvantage theory; immigrants; entrepreneurial opportunity; immigration; integration; assimilation; separation; segregation; marginalisation; cross-vergence theory; cultural interaction; home country; host country.

DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2016.074024

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2016 Vol.9 No.1, pp.88 - 101

Published online: 03 Jan 2016 *

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