What Triggers Migrant Entrepreneurs to Move to Depopulated Areas?

Authors

  • Osamu Nakajima Maebashi Institute of Technology
  • Hidekazu Iwamoto Josai International University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52731/lbds.v004.292

Keywords:

migrant entrepreneurs, motivation, depopulated areas, local industry

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the factors that determine migrant entrepreneurs' decision to migrate to depopulated areas. According to Florida [1], the aggregation of individuals possessing creative talents catalyzes enhancing the overall creativity within a region. In this study, authors focus on the “trigger” for migrants to move to rural areas, that is, the motivation of migrants. To extract the factors that lead respondents to migrate, this study adopted semi-structured interviews with six respondents, asking them to tell their life stories about how they migrated and started their businesses. The authors adopted a co-occurrence network method using KH Coder (KHC) text mining to find commonalities in the results of migration and starting a business. The authors found that the pivotal factor lies in the feasibility of migrant entrepreneurs to fulfill their desire. In sparsely populated areas, personal introductions from closely associated acquaintances play a significant role in the migration decision-making process.

References

R. Florida, Who’s your city?: how the creative economy is making where to live the most important decision of your life, Basic Books, 2009, p.384.

Cabinet Office, Dai 1-shō kōrei-ka no jōkyō [Chapter 1 Status of aging], Ryō wa 2-nen-ban kōrei shakai hakusho [White Paper on Aging Society 2020], Cabinet Office, p.15.

J. Nagatomo, "Raifusutairu ijū no gainen to senkō kenkyū no dōkō [Concept of lifestyle migration and trends in previous research]," Journal of International Studies, vol.4, no.1, pp.23-32.

Cabinet Secretariat, Town, People, and Jobs Revitalization Headquarters Secretariat, Tōkyō- ken zaijū-sha no yaku hansū ga, chihō-ken de no kurashi ni kanshin ari: Ijū-tō no zōka ni muketa kōhō senryaku no ritsuan jisshi no tame no chōsa jigyō hōkoku-sho [Approximately half of the people living in the Tokyo area are interested in living in regional areas: Research project report for planning and implementing public relations strategies for increasing migration, etc.], Cabinet Secretariat, 2020, p.171.

T. Tateyama, Shiken takken: "Ka-seidenai jakunen-sō no chihō ijū [Personal observation: migration of non-sexual young people to rural areas]," Nihonkeizaishinbun, 2022, June 24th, p.33.

G. Simmel, Soziologie: Untersuchungenüberdie Formender Vergesellschaftung, M.Iyasu, Shakai-gaku (gekan) [Sociology (volume 2)], Hakusuisha, 1994, p.417.

G. Tokuda, Yosomono/ sutorenjā no shakai-gaku [Sociology of the Stranger], Koyo Shobo Corporation, 2020, p.208.

C. Landry, The creative city: a toolkit for urban innovators, Earthscan Publications Ltd, 2008, p.350.

E. Wenger, R., McDermott, and W. Snyder, Cultivating Communities of Practice, Harvard Business School Press, 2002, p.304.

N. Akasaka, Ijin-ron josetsu [Introduction to foreigners], Chikumashobo Ltd, 1992, p.335.

S. Kito, "Kankyō undō/ kankyō rinen kenkyū ni okeru `yosomono'-ron no shatei:Isahayawan to amamioshima no `shizen'nokenri' soshō no jirei o chūshin ni [The scope of the “outsider” theory in environmental movement/environmental philosophy research: Focusing on cases of “rights of nature” litigation in Isahaya Bay and Amami Oshima]," Japanese Association for Environmental Sociology, vol.4, 1998, pp.44-59.

A.Shikida, "Yosomono to chiiki-zukuri ni okeru sono yakuwari ni kansuru suru kenkyū [Research on outsiders and their role in community development]," The Journal of international media, communication, and Tourism Studies, vol.9, 2009, pp.79-100.

O.Nakajima, "Ijū kigyōka no chiiki shakai e no teichaku yōin: Higashikawachō no kagu seibi-hin seizō-gyō [Factors contributing to the establishment of migrant entrepreneurs in local communities: Furniture and maintenance goods manufacturing industry in Higashikawa Town]," Japan Association for cultural economics, 2023, vol.20, no.1, pp.23-32.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-16