Geografie 2011, 116, 440-461
Entrepreneurship of Foreigners in Czechia: The Impact of Opportunity Structures
Drawing on statistical analyses, we seek to uncover differences among immigrant business activities and the majority of business activities in Czechia. We presume that immigrants have been subject to similar conditions for business as the majority (especially at the beginning of 1990s), mostly because of the unique situation after an extended period of interruption of business traditions. This article is based on the so-called Interactive approach by Aldrich and Waldinger, who claim that the key factor in the development of immigrant business is the opportunity structure in a given destination country. We have discovered that, apart from economic outcomes, there is little difference between immigrant and majority businesses activities. Therefore, we conclude that opportunity structure is more important for immigrant business than capital and other resources.
Keywords
international migration, entrepreneurial environment, immigrant entrepreneurship, opportunity structure, Czechia.