Paths to ownership of small businesses among immigrants in Israeli cities and towns

This paper examines the role of location and ethnicity in paths to entrepreneurship among immigrants in Israel, focusing on differences between immigrants of Eastern (Middle Eastern and North African) and Western (European and American) origin, and between metropolitan and nonmetrpolitan locations. Analysis is based on census data for cohorts of immigrants defined by age and year of immigration and on a survey of blue-collar and distribution small businesses. The combination of a population of Eastern origin and peripheral location created the most restricted paths to entrepreneurship. These paths were characterized by a high dependency on kinship and social networks for advancement through blue-collar and distribution self-employment opportunities in locations where such opportunities and supportive networks were least available. -Author