Silicon Valley's New Immigrant High-Growth Entrepreneurs

This study examines the economic influence of experienced Asian immigrants in Silicon Valley as entrepreneurs and indirectly as facilitators of trade with, and investment in, their countries of origin. Due to the limited availability of data, a mix of research methods and strategies were used. The decennial census is the only comprehensive data on immigrants by industry and occupation. The analysis of immigrant-run businesses is taken from a customized Dun & Bradstreet (1998) database of 11,443 high-tech firms in Silicon Valley founded between 1980 and 1998. The study demonstrates that immigrants are significant contributors to entrepreneurial enterprises and, by extension, to the economy of Silicon Valley. Policymakers should be more aware of the benefits to the economy from immigrants, their investments, their trade with their countries of origin, and to the United States' economic development.(JSD)