Article: Rich-to-poor diaspora ventures: how do they survive? Journal: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (IJESB) 2016 Vol.28 No.4 pp.391 - 413 Abstract: This paper develops a first conceptual understanding of motivations and success/survival factors of 'rich-to-poor diaspora entrepreneurship (DE)' by focusing on an individual's cultural intelligence and learning ability. Rich-to-poor DE addresses entrepreneurial activities conducted in developing or emerging countries by diasporans originated from developed ones. Despite the growing research interest in the phenomena of DE and its increasing importance for societies and economies, previous researchers have almost solely focused on entrepreneurship by diasporans whose country of origin is an emerging or developing one ('poor-to-rich DE'). This type of DE has been considered to be driven mainly by necessity, an outcome of the lack of financial and economic alternatives in the home country. Evidence from business practice, however, shows the existence and significance of rich-to-poor DE, which is assumed to be more opportunity-driven. The aim of this paper is to clarify the difference between rich-to-poor DE and poor-to-rich DE, and to develop research propositions regarding motivations and success/survival factors of the rich-to-poor type employing cultural intelligence theory (Earley, 2002) and learning theory. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Rich-to-poor diaspora ventures: how do they survive?

Authors: Aki Harima; Maria Elo; Jörg Freiling

Addresses: University of Bremen, Wilhelm-Herbst-Str. 5, D-28359 Bremen, Germany ' Turku School of Economics, Turku University, Rehtorinpellonkatu 3, 20500 Turku, Finland ' University of Bremen, Wilhelm-Herbst-Str. 5, D-28359 Bremen, Germany

Abstract: This paper develops a first conceptual understanding of motivations and success/survival factors of 'rich-to-poor diaspora entrepreneurship (DE)' by focusing on an individual's cultural intelligence and learning ability. Rich-to-poor DE addresses entrepreneurial activities conducted in developing or emerging countries by diasporans originated from developed ones. Despite the growing research interest in the phenomena of DE and its increasing importance for societies and economies, previous researchers have almost solely focused on entrepreneurship by diasporans whose country of origin is an emerging or developing one ('poor-to-rich DE'). This type of DE has been considered to be driven mainly by necessity, an outcome of the lack of financial and economic alternatives in the home country. Evidence from business practice, however, shows the existence and significance of rich-to-poor DE, which is assumed to be more opportunity-driven. The aim of this paper is to clarify the difference between rich-to-poor DE and poor-to-rich DE, and to develop research propositions regarding motivations and success/survival factors of the rich-to-poor type employing cultural intelligence theory (Earley, 2002) and learning theory.

Keywords: diaspora entrepreneurship; rich-to-poor DE; international entrepreneurship; diaspora networks; cultural intelligence theory; learning ability; motivation; success factors; survival factors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2016.077566

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2016 Vol.28 No.4, pp.391 - 413

Received: 22 May 2015
Accepted: 22 May 2015
Published online: 06 Jul 2016 *

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Title: Rich-to-poor diaspora ventures: how do they survive?

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