Tuesday, September 29 | 2:00pm-3:30pm | Room 329, HSBC Business School Building

Abstract

The repatriation of highly skilled migrants has been viewed as important to the supply of entrepreneurial talent in emerging markets. Our study of the overseas alumni of a top Indian university points to the importance of peer influence in determining returnee entrepreneurship. We find that peer ties formed in the early years of university study play a significant role in subsequent career choices and entrepreneurship entry in the home country. We also find co-ethnic professional networks facilitate engagement in returnee entrepreneurship. While policies to encourage returnee entrepreneurship have been geared largely toward promoting formal institutions and economic incentives, our work demonstrates a strong social amplification effect through networks