Self-employment policies and migrants' entrepreneurship in Germany |
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Authors: | Maria Kontos |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Social and Political Science, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany;2. correspondence to: Zu den Eichen 13, 65719 Hofheim/Ts, Germany;3. e-mail: kontos@soz.uni-frankfurt.de |
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Abstract: | This paper presents results from a European project on policy and migrants' entrepreneurship in Germany. It develops a concept of biographical policy evaluation by analysing the extent to which the biographical processes that have led to self-employment among migrants in individual cases correspond to those anticipated by policy. The study identifies a biographical structure composed of two phases that shape the status passage to self-employment. During these phases, personal resources are mobilized and/or attempts are made to access policy support. Self-employment policies are fragmented in that they are designed to address specific stages of the process. Migrants are often excluded from policy participation, either as a result of policy failures or through a manner of implementation that is frequently influenced by prejudices and stereotypes. Deprived of class resources and sometimes unable to utilize ethnic resources, migrant would-be entrepreneurs require public support. The ‘bridging allowance’ scheme to encourage self-employment among the unemployed currently in place in Germany (Überbrückungsgeld) could serve as a model for a more adequate support policy for non-privileged business starters that would better allow for the participation of migrants. |
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Keywords: | Entrepreneurship And Biography Policy Evaluation Support Policy Migrants' Entrepreneurship |
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