Abstract:

In times of globalisation, immigration is a key factor which effects the economies of countries on all continents. The specialised knowledge and international connections of immigrants can be a stimulus for the host country’s market. This study focuses on the Austrian province Burgenland because this region of Austria was the one most affected by the improved access to Eastern Europe due to its geographical location. During the last five years, exports from Burgenland rose the most among all Austrian provinces (+ 35.7 percent). In comparison, the average of all Austria’s federal states was 20.2 percent. During this period, more than16,500 people from abroad settled in the region. The number of companies grew during the same period by a third to 20,000 businesses. This study addresses the question of whether companies founded by migrants created impetus in the export sector. The proportion of foreign entrepreneurs in Burgenland increased from 3.9 percent in 2005 to 38.3 percent in 2015. An analysis of trade data of the year 2015 indicates that migrants’ companies mainly focus on the market and its niches in the host country, particularly in the area of service. Migrant entrepreneurs are less focused on using contacts in their country of origin to start economically important changes in the export sector. Between 4 and 5 percent of migrant businesses are engaged in foreign trade, they show the same export orientation as the domestic entrepreneurs of the observed region.