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  • 2020
  • Article
  • Research Policy

Immigrant Entrepreneurship in America: Evidence from the Survey of Business Owners 2007 & 2012

By: Sari Pekkala Kerr and William R. Kerr
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Abstract

We study immigrant entrepreneurship in 2007 and 2012 using the Survey of Business Owners. First-generation immigrants create about 25% of new firms in America, but this share exceeds 40% in some states. Immigrant-owned firms tend to create fewer jobs than native-owned firms, have comparable pay levels, offer fewer benefits, and engage more in international activities. Immigrant-founded firms in high-tech sectors more closely resemble native-founded firms than in low-tech sectors. Prominent tech clusters display quite pronounced shares of immigrant entrepreneurs, with stronger high-tech immigrant entrepreneurs being especially present. Second-generation immigrants tend to show intermediate firm traits indicative of business assimilation.

Keywords

Job Creation; Employee Benefits; Owner Demographics; Exports; Outsourcing; Immigration; Entrepreneurship; Ownership; Demographics; Jobs and Positions; Compensation and Benefits; United States

Citation

Kerr, Sari Pekkala, and William R. Kerr. "Immigrant Entrepreneurship in America: Evidence from the Survey of Business Owners 2007 & 2012." Art. 103918. Research Policy 49, no. 3 (April 2020).
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About The Author

William R. Kerr

Entrepreneurial Management
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