2024
Working Paper
HBS Working Paper Series

Immigrant Entrepreneurship: New Estimates and a Research Agenda

By: Saheel Chodavadia, Sari Pekkala Kerr, William R. Kerr and Louis Maiden

Format:Print
| Language:English
| Pages:35

Abstract

Immigrants contribute disproportionately to entrepreneurship in many countries, accounting for a quarter of new employer businesses in the US. We review recent research on the measurement of immigrant entrepreneurship, the traits of immigrant founders, their economic impact, and policy levers. We provide updated statistics on the share of US entrepreneurs who are immigrants. We utilize the Annual Business Survey to quantify the greater rates of patenting and innovation in immigrant-founded firms. This higher propensity towards innovation is only partly explained by differences in education levels and fields of study. We conclude with avenues for future research.

Keywords

Immigrant Employment; Immigration; Entrepreneurship; Demographics; Innovation and Invention

Citation

Chodavadia, Saheel, Sari Pekkala Kerr, William R. Kerr, and Louis Maiden. "Immigrant Entrepreneurship: New Estimates and a Research Agenda." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 24-068, April 2024.