‘Studying Up’ in Migrant Entrepreneurship: Privileged Migrant Entrepreneurs from the ‘Global North’ in the Emerging Economy of Wroclaw, Poland

As noted by Nadar in 1972, there has been a reluctance in the field of anthropology to ‘study up’. Despite that observation being made over 40 years ago, within the literature surrounding migrant entrepreneurship it remains overwhelmingly true. Research has centered around migration in a South-North direction, resulting in the current narrative of the ‘disadvantaged migrant’, depicted as lacking agency, often subject to ‘restrictions, limitations, and discrimination’ (Benson & O’Reilly 2018: 11). Meanwhile, there remains an almost total lack of research about migrant entrepreneurs who have migrated in the opposite direction. Given that global migration from South-North (85.3 million) greatly outnumbers migration from North-South (13.6 million), some may ask if it matters that this (less common) demographic has been neglected in the literature. However, Nadar (1972) reminds us of the importance of ‘studying up’. First, it may force us to ask different questions. For example, with regards to the motivations of migrant entrepreneurs, when they move to the ‘Global North’, it is rarely questioned why. It is simply (somewhat arrogantly) assumed that of course they want to move to an economically more developed country. Yet, if someone were to move in the opposite direction, let’s say from the USA to Poland, one may well be inclined to look puzzled and ask ‘Why?!’ In other words, it ‘calls into question taken-for-granted understandings of the relationship between migration and economics’ (Benson & O’Reilly 2018: 91). Second, Nadar (1972: 5) warns of how the exclusive ‘downward’ study of ‘ethnic-groups’, and the inherent ‘dominant-subordinate’ relationship, may be ‘affecting the kinds of theories that we are weaving’. Indeed, as this paper will show, this seems to be precisely the case within the field of migrant entrepreneurship. Third, there are policy implications for the many governments around the world which are actively encouraging migrants to open their own businesses (Collins 2003). If policy is based upon the current theories, and these theories are limited in scope, then what does that mean for the effectiveness of such policies? Fourth, there may be theoretical implications which extend beyond the field of migrant entrepreneurship, specifically regarding global power hierarchies and inequality. The key indicator most commonly used to measure inequality is wealth. What then, could be more meaningful than studying those who are at the forefront of wealth creation i.e. entrepreneurs? Switching the focus to migrant entrepreneurs from the world’s wealthiest nations, and positioning subsequent findings against those from those from some of the poorest, may offer key insights into the factors which reinforce (or breakdown) wealth inequality. This paper presents the initial findings from a comparative study of migrant entrepreneurs from the 'Global North' and 'South' in the economic 'middle-ground' environment of Wroclaw, Poland.