Diversity of Entrepreneurial Perceptions: Immigrants vs. Native Population

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between immigrants and the native‐born population concerning estimations of the feasibility of becoming an entrepreneur, and to examine the relationship between the propensity for risk‐taking and the perceived feasibility of becoming an entrepreneur. The paper developed the renewed application of the entrepreneurial intentions model, with perceived feasibility to be an entrepreneur expressed as an assessment of opportunity to act, and risk‐taking propensity derived from an assessment of opportunity to succeed. This renewed approach enabled us to explain the paradox between immigrants' high entrepreneurial motivation and low perceived feasibility of becoming an entrepreneur based on the risk homeostasis theory. The high level of apparent immigration‐related risks experienced by immigrants in the past affects their risk‐taking propensity, thus decreasing their perceived feasibility of establishing businesses.