Title: Policy for supporting business minorities: a study of women and immigrant entrepreneurs

Authors: Nonna Kushnirovich

Addresses: Department of Economics and Management, Institute of Immigration and Integration, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer 40250, Israel

Abstract: The study focused on governmental policy supporting women and immigrant entrepreneurs. The empirical analysis showed that minority business entrepreneurs invested significantly less in their businesses and borrowed less from banks than native Israeli men. The study found that the salient factors that influenced the scope of immigrant businesses| start-up capital were receipt of financial support and engaging in trade. Factors that influenced the scope of start-up capital in women|s businesses were receipt of non-financial support and former entrepreneurial experience. Entrepreneurs who received support invested significantly more in their businesses than those who did not.

Keywords: business minorities; enterprise development; financing; immigrant entrepreneurship; policy; women; immigrants; government policy; minority entrepreneurs; female entrepreneurs; Israel; start-up capital; financial support; start-ups.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2009.026306

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2009 Vol.7 No.4, pp.394 - 408

Published online: 06 Jun 2009 *

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