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Syrian Refugee Entrepreneurship in Turkey: Integration and the Use of Immigrant Capital in the Informal Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Reyhan Atasü-Topcuoğlu

    (Department of Social Work, Hacettepe University, Turkey)

Abstract

This study focuses on small-scale entrepreneurship of Syrian refugees in Turkey. It analyses in a Bourdieusian way how they utilize cultural, social, economic and symbolic capital, and reveals their start-up and sustainability strategies. It is based on 24 in-depth interviews with Syrian small entrepreneurs who started up new businesses after 2011, in Istanbul, Gaziantep, and Hatay. It describes the entrepreneurial opportunity structure and the significance of the informal economy and analyses Syrians’ utilization of various forms of capital in small entrepreneurship and relations to integration. The main finding indicates that the informal economy—as the main site of such entrepreneurship—eases the start-up process but limits on-going business and integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Reyhan Atasü-Topcuoğlu, 2019. "Syrian Refugee Entrepreneurship in Turkey: Integration and the Use of Immigrant Capital in the Informal Economy," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 200-210.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:socinc:v7:y:2019:i:4:p:200-210
    DOI: 10.17645/si.v7i4.2346
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Belal Shneikat & Zaid Alrawadieh, 2019. "Unraveling refugee entrepreneurship and its role in integration: empirical evidence from the hospitality industry," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(9-10), pages 741-761, July.
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    3. Rima M. Bizri, 2017. "Refugee-entrepreneurship: a social capital perspective," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(9-10), pages 847-868, October.
    4. Ceyhun Elgin & Muhammed Burak Sezgin, 2017. "Sectoral Estimates of Informality: A New Method and Application for the Turkish Economy," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 55(4), pages 261-289, December.
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