Abstract

The main purpose of this licentiate thesis is to test the hypothesis, held by many Swedish politicians, that immigrant entrepreneurship is a successful strategy for the integration of immigrants (in this case Iranians) into Swedish society.

The author’s own hypothesis is that the starting of own companies is not necessarily a good integration strategy for all Iranians who are outside the ordinary labour market. The secondary purpose is to describe and analyse residential patterns for persons with Iranian, Turkish, and Chilean origin in Gothenburg. These patterns are used as indicators for the degree of integration in society.

The main questions of the thesis are as follows:

· What do housing patterns look like for persons of Iranian, Turkish and Chilean origin in Gothenburg in 1987 and in 1996 respectively?
· How have these patterns been changing over time?
· Are these groups of people more segregated or more integrated in 1996 than in 1987?
· Are there differences or similarities in patterns of housing between these groups?
· Is starting a small business activity a good strategy for the integration of immigrants into Swedish society?
· Can starting a small business activity help them to a quicker improvement of their housing career?
· Which factors are the most important in the choice of a house or housing area for Iranian entrepreneurs?

Two empirical studies are done in this thesis in connection to purpose and questions. The first study is a case study on residential patterns for people with Iranian, Turkish and Chilean origin in Gothenburg during 1987 and 1996. The second study is an interview study concerning 28 Iranian entrepreneurs in Gothenburg.

Results from the study on housing patterns indicate that persons of Iranian and Chilean origin show more integrated residential patterns than the Turkish group. Results from the second study show that Iranian entrepreneurs in Sweden start their own business due to unemployment and the lack of a suitable job.

Their own interest in entrepreneurship does not stand out as an important motive. Entrepreneurship does not represent a good integration strategy for Iranians with other resources such as good educational credentials, work experience and good language abilities.

They would instead prefer to be integrated in the ordinary labour market. In their case entrepreneurship does not imply any positive change of existing labour market segmentation and segregation, while entrepreneurship can be a viable strategy for persons with less qualifications and less chances of entering the labour market.

Keywords : Segregation, integration, immigrants, employment, unemployment, labour market, housing, Iranians, Swedes, immigrant companies