Greek diaspora and Entrepreneurship

Abstract

This qualitative research with the title Greek diaspora and Entrepreneurship explores the determinants of a Greek migrants group that left Greece and decided to start an entrepreneurial activity in the UK. The main focus is the analysis of the cultural attributes in the entrepreneurial activity of Greek immigrants in the London area. This research topic addresses the importance of how specific cultural components of Greek entrepreneurs immigrating to the London area are able to affect their entrepreneurial intention and behaviour. Therefore, in order to come up with the findings, the main research question "What are the specificities of Greek entrepreneurs immigrating to the UK and how do those specificities affect their entrepreneurial activities?", was analysed and answered. For that thesis, seventeen Greek entrepreneurs, working in the London and Manchester area have been interviewed in 2016/17. The analysis of the transcriptions was done by the coding of the sources via the usage of Software Nvivo. The final findings show that cultural specificities for Greek entrepreneurs immigrating to the London area are proved that they play an important role in the formation of their intention to set up a business. The main ones are: economic crisis, Greek cultural values, networks and level of education which have an impact on their intention and behaviour process relationship. Moreover, regional social legitimacy and economic crisis are two important factors that have an impact on Greeks specificities which in turn influence the intention to set up business as well as their actual entrepreneurial behaviour in the London area. Finally, this thesis aims to help in further research as it should be an important base for economic and even political framework conditions improvement in future migrant entrepreneurship matters. ; Author Eleni Laspa ; Universität Linz, Masterarbeit, 2019 ; (VLID)3668975