Dual environments of home and host countries of diasporic transnational entrepreneurs: an empirical study in the Canadian context

Abstract

This study determines the relative importance of business environment factors perceived by the Canadian diasporic transnational entrepreneurs (DTEs) as affecting the success of their foreign activities in the host and home countries. Findings indicate that in the home countries, government regulations and lack of human and financial resources were the most determinant impeding factors while welcoming attitude of local rulers was the most determinant facilitating factor. In the host country, tolerance, openness, recognition and validation of credentials from the home country, and government services for immigrants were found as the most significant factors that facilitate the start-up and development of diasporic transnational entrepreneurship. The lack of these factors impedes the start-up and development of diasporic transnational activities. Overall, depending on the indicator used for internationalisation, up to 30% of the variations in the international activities of DTEs are attributed to the dual business environments.