International Conference in Cologne Sheds Light on Entrepreneurship and Inequality

Experts Discuss Opportunity Hoarding and its Global Impacts at the Max Planck Institute

The conference “Hoarding Opportunities: Entrepreneurship and Inequality” recently took place at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies in Cologne, offering significant insights into the concept of opportunity hoarding and its effects on various forms of entrepreneurship. Organized by Isabell Stamm and her co-organizers (Katharina Scheidgen, Alexandra Manske, Katharina Mojescik), the workshop brought together researchers from around the world to explore how inequalities in startups, family businesses, and beyond are both manifested and perpetuated.

Julia de Groote presented the latest findings of a study in collaboration with Christina Günther and the DIW. The study explores the role that entrepreneurial activities can play in the well-being of migrant women in Germany. The conference featured discussions based on data and research findings from the US, Germany, China, Finland, Italy, and France. A key aspect of the discussions was the realization that the mechanisms of inequality are similar across these diverse settings and remain profoundly gendered.

The conference served as a sobering reminder of how slow progress towards true equal opportunities can be and highlighted the significant need for further research and actions to establish equal conditions for all genders.