How innovative are Dutch immigrant entrepreneurs? : Constructing a framework of assessment

Asks how innovative Dutch immigrant entrepreneurs are. Since the mid‐1980s the number of immigrant firms has more than tripled. This coincides with a huge increase in the number of start‐ups in the Dutch economy as a whole. However, international comparisons show that this increase has not resulted in an equal rise in the number of fast growing firms that add value and create employment – the so‐called gazelles – and are hence the preferred ideal of policy makers. This raises the question of how innovative the Dutch economy might be. To address this issue, constructs a framework of assessment, derived from the divergent capitalisms approach of Richard Whitley and associates, as this approach offers a useful conceptual instrument to do so. Concludes that, despite appearances, the Dutch institutional setting is not very conducive for value creating innovations, but instead seduces firms, especially small and medium enterprises, to follow reactive strategies. Offers some general remarks on how the conditions for innovation can be improved.