Spatial Mobility Capital: A Valuable Resource for the Social Mobility of Border-Crossing Migrant Entrepreneurs?

Abstract

Spatial mobility is considered a valuable resource for social mobility. Yet, we still have an insufficient understanding of the extent to which and under what conditions geographical movement across national borders represents an asset for social advancement. Addressing this research gap, we offer a theoretical contribution to the fields of transnationalism, migration/mobility, and social geography. We focus on 86 cross-border migrant entrepreneurs who live in Barcelona (Spain), Cúcuta (Colombia), and Zurich (Switzerland), and combine geographical and mental maps, biographical interviews, ethnographic observations, and participatory Minga workshops. Our results show significant inequality in opportunity among the studied entrepreneurs and reveal different geographies of risk and uncertainty for their cross-border mobilities. We theoretically propose that the ability to use spatial mobility as a resource for social mobility depends largely on three intersecting factors: the entrepreneur’s social position, his or her location in geographical space, and his or her strategies. Moreover, we have formulated the concept of spatial mobility capital to define the necessary conditions for spatial mobility to become a valuable resource for social advancement: individuals must be in control of their spatial mobilities, such mobilities need to match their socio-economic needs and personal aspirations, and they must be able to move safely.

Bridging the Gap Transnationally—Coupling Migrants' Informal and Formal Business Activities Through Hybrid Business Models

“…Hence, and in response to the recent call for more longitudinal studies to understand how the trajectories of entrepreneurs and their businesses evolve over space and time (Riaño, Mittmasser, and Sandoz 2022), we ask:…”

“…Hence, and in response to the recent call for more longitudinal studies to understand how the trajectories of entrepreneurs and their businesses evolve over space and time (Riaño, Mittmasser, and Sandoz 2022), we ask:How does transnationalism bridge the gap between informal and formal business structures?How do TMEs' multifocal practices allow for experimentation with and influence the establishment of hybrid business models and their embeddedness in multiple EEs?…”