Refugee Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review of Prior Research and Agenda for Future Research

Abstract

Over the last two decades, ever-increasing numbers of refugees have left their home countries. As of 2022, around 27 million people were registered as refugees with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). While some consider refugees to be a burden on their host countries, there is growing evidence that they make significant contributions to host countries’ economies, with rates of entrepreneurship higher than other migrant groups and host country nationals. To take stock of what is known about refugee entrepreneurship, this article undertakes a systematic review of the refugee entrepreneurship empirical literature. The systematic review provides insights into the factors which shape refugees’ initiation of, engagement in, and performance of entrepreneurial endeavors and identifies gaps and inconsistencies in the current refugee entrepreneurship literature. Based on these gaps and inconsistencies, a future research agenda is proposed. By taking stock of what is known and proposing a future research agenda, this review has scholarly implications for the academic advancement of refugee entrepreneurship. Additionally, this review has policy implications. By better understanding the field of refugee entrepreneurship and its social and economic benefits, government policy-makers will be better positioned to design responsive policies to support refugee entrepreneurs in establishing their entrepreneurial endeavors. Finally, the findings of this review have practical implications for refugee entrepreneurs themselves, for example, by highlighting the resources that will assist entrepreneurs in pursuing entrepreneurship.