Routledge Female Immigrant Entrepreneurs: The Economic and Social Impact of a Global Phenomenon

A third of the world's entrepreneurial activity is driven by women. With the mass movement of people now commonplace, the role of female entrepreneurs in immigrant communities has become an increasingly important component of the world economy, its productivity, and the struggle against poverty. Throwing light on the dynamics of entrepreneurship generally, and on immigrant and female entrepreneurship in particular, the global Female Immigrant Entrepreneurship (FIE) project is a huge and exciting research undertaking. Written by the project's team of researchers based in prestigious business schools and universities on almost every continent, this important book begins the process of discovering why and how female driven business start-ups often seem to spontaneously emerge in adverse environments. Is it randomness, luck, or chance that determine success or failure, or vital critical forces and the inherent qualities of the women involved? The research emerging from the FIE project points to answers to questions about the integration of immigrant communities, their interaction with host economic and business environments, and the role of women in that interaction. With findings from more than fifteen countries, from the USA with some of the world's oldest and largest immigrant communities, to African countries that are the newest destination for Asian migrants, this book will help inform social and economic policy in communities and countries searching for prosperity. More than that, the book offers policy makers, business leaders, and those concerned with business development the chance to uncover some of the mystery around the complex phenomenon of entrepreneurship itself. Review 'This pioneering, truly global collection of fieldwork-based studies fills a very significant gap in the literature on immigrant entrepreneurship. Not only has the role of female entrepreneurs been largely neglected in this literature; the range of cases examined has been extremely narrow. The volume delivers a wealth of empirical evidence on how female immigrant entrepreneurs actually start and operate small businesses, and how their activities contribute more broadly to immigrant economic incorporation. This book is a model of research in comparative immigration studies.' Dr Wayne Cornelius, Co-Director, University of California Global Health Institute; Director Emeritus, Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, University of California-San Diego, USA. 'This book engages in the debate on the role of female entrepreneurs in immigrant communities by discovering the determinants and the way through which female driven business start-ups emerge in adverse environments. Based on the findings of the Female Immigrant Entrepreneurship Project, it is a treasure trove of thoroughly researched and prominently recounted stories on the role of women entrepreneurs in immigrant communities of more than fifteen countries. It offers an invaluable perspective on the multifaceted and complex phenomenon of female immigrant entrepreneurship." Prof. Lucio Cassia , Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship and Director of CYFE - Center for Young and Family Enterprise,University of Bergamo, Italy. 'What are we learning from the numerous global crises? The world needs a new way of doing business in a more conscious, inclusive and harmonious way. Female energy is changing our one world for the better. This book provides powerful stories how female immigrant entrepreneurs are leading the way.' Jürgen Nagler, Business4Good, consultant of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 'As women entrepreneurs in general are becoming an increasingly important driver of business and economic activity, the immigrants amongst them encounter an immense degree of adversity on the road to social and economic credibility. This volume is rich in examples of the diverse environments that these female immigrant entrepreneurs face and f