The mixed embeddedness of transnational migrant entrepreneurs: Moroccans in Amsterdam and Milan

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article addresses transnational migrant entrepreneurship – migrant entrepreneurs establishing businesses that span across borders. The article contributes to this field by applying the mixed embeddedness approach and revisiting it from a transnational perspective. The article uses an overall qualitative approach and analyses the case of Moroccan transnational entrepreneurs in Milan and Amsterdam (N = 35). This illustrates that, on the one hand, institutional embeddedness in different contexts (country of residence, country of origin, and other countries) influences respondents’ business patterns through the opportunities and the constraints created by the political-institutional and economic features of these contexts. On the other hand, transnational entrepreneurs take advantage of their (often, previously-acquired) heterogeneous contacts (social embeddedness) and skills (e.g. linguistic knowledge, previous work experience) to conduct their business.