Immigrants are bringing entrepreneurial flair to Germany
While native Germans are growing less eager to start businesses, new arrivals are ever more so
GERMANS are famous for hard work and efficiency, but not necessarily for entrepreneurialism. They are less likely to start a new business than Americans, Swedes or even the French (see chart). But the country’s recent wave of immigration appears to be giving its startup rate a boost. In 2015, 44% of newly registered businesses in Germany were founded by people with foreign passports, up from just 13% in 2003. In all, about one-fifth of those engaged in entrepreneurial activity were born abroad.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline "Startup-Kultur"
Europe February 4th 2017
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