Bridging the Gap Between Returnee Entrepreneurs and Firm Performance in Kosovo
The Mediating Role of Knowledge Transfer
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22010022 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Besnik A Krasniqi (0000-0003-2440-3974, University of Prishtina), Agron Hajdari (0000-0001-5742-585X, International Business College Mitrovica, Kosovo, corresponding author), Veland Ramadani (0000-0002-8495-9141, South East European University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 175-192 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Migration and Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2163-2324 • E-ISSN: 2163-2332 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/21632324251357066 |
| OpenAlex | W4413414943 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 47 |
Returnee entrepreneurs have been recognised as a catalyst for economic development and innovation in the homeland, yet the mechanisms through which returnees contribute to firm performance and development remain underexplored. This study explores the role of mediating knowledge transfer in the relationship between returnee migration and firm performance. Using structural equation modelling on a sample of 151 firms owned by returnee entrepreneurs in Kosovo, the findings reveal that returnee migration alone does not significantly enhance firm performance. Instead, knowledge transfer serves as a key mediator and enables firms to leverage the expertise, skills, and international networks acquired abroad. The results confirm that effective knowledge transfer significantly contributes to firm performance, emphasising the importance of absorptive capacity within firms to maximise the benefits of returnee knowledge. The study offers theoretical implications by refining our understanding of migration-driven firm development and practical implications for managers and policymakers aiming to harness the potential of returnees
Business · Industrial organization · Knowledge management · Knowledge transfer · Computer Science · Economic Growth and Development · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Psychology
The Diaspora and Returnee Entrepreneurship
Effects of estimation methods, number of indicators per factor, and improper solutions on structural equation modeling fit indices
How to Specify, Estimate, and Validate Higher-Order Constructs in PLS-SEM
Knowledge Transfer
Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in second language and education research
Absorptive Capacity
Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis
Common method biases in behavioral research
A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling
When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM
Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error
Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage
Toward a knowledge‐based theory of the firm
International Migration and Knowledge
Institutional drivers of high-growth firms
From Brain Drain to Brain Circulation
Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures
Does return migration with government support drive county economic convergence? Evidence from migrant workers returning to hometown for entrepreneurship in China
International return mobility, learning and knowledge transfer
New Skills, New Jobs
| Highly cited | No |
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