If you’re lucky enough to have received a Covid-19 vaccination, you probably have an immigrant entrepreneur to thank. Not only are Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna pioneers in the field of mRNA-based vaccine research; they were all founded or cofounded by immigrants.*
Research: Why Immigrants Are More Likely to Become Entrepreneurs
A 12-year study found that both voluntary emigration and entrepreneurship were associated with a higher propensity for risk-taking.
August 04, 2021
Carlina Teteris/Getty Images
Summary.
We know that immigrants around the world are more likely to start companies than native-born populations but we have a limited understanding as to why. New research suggests personality-based self-selection — in particular, a propensity for risk-taking — may be a hidden driver. The findings have implications for investors, who might want to provide services tailored to the needs of migrant entrepreneurs, including visa and legal advice, and policy makers, who might want to extend support beyond beyond the small group of later-stage international entrepreneurs who are usually the target of entrepreneurship visa programs and investment promotion agencies.