Barriers to Refugee Entrepreneurship in Belgium: Towards an Explanatory Model

The integration of refugees in Western societies is often perceived as problematic, both by refugees and by the native population. By promoting refugee entrepreneurship, integration into the host society can be assisted, and domestic entrepreneurship boosted. Refugee entrepreneurship has been an underdeveloped domain of scientific research. The number of refugee entrepreneurs in Belgium is limited and they earn less than other self-employed people. Interviewing advisors and refugee entrepreneurs yields several insights into the obstacles encountered. These are grouped under three headings: market opportunities and access to entrepreneurship, human capital and social networks, and the institutional and societal environment. It appears that refugees suffer more from barriers than other immigrants.