Introduction: relevance of transnational diaspora entrepreneurship and the motivation and structure of the Research Handbook

This chapter introduces the topic of this book: Transnational Diaspora Entrepreneurship (TDE) and its main actors, Transnational Diaspora Entrepreneurs (TDEs): entrepreneurs who have migrated to another country (or are descendants of migrants) but still retain commercial links with their own country. This is done through a set of vignettes of TDEs from around the world. Research gaps regarding TDEs are identified, and the objectives of the edited volume outlined. These objectives are: 1) to offer recent studies for discussions on theoretical and methodological development, 2) to provide deep thematic insights in the form of country and migration corridor chapters with empirical data and 3) to introduce studies that advance perspectives on the TDE policymaking. The chapter also introduces the four main parts of the book: 1) definition and empirical assessment of TDE, 2) country case studies of TDE, 3) TDE and migration corridors and finally 4) policy considerations.