e launched a project to learn about the entrepreneurial landscape there. Over eight months, we surveyed 153 workers who had studied or worked in the U.S.and returned to India to start companies, and 111 who went back to China. We detail our findings in our new study, The Grass Is Indeed Greener in India and China for Returnee Entrepreneurs. It shows that the majority of returnee entrepreneurs are doing better at home than they believe they would do in the U.S.
Why did they return home? Because of burgeoning economies, access to local markets, and family ties. More than 60 percent of Indian and 90 percent of Chinese returnees said the economic opportunities in their countries were a major factor in their return. Seventy-eight percent of Chinese were lured by the local markets, as were 53 percent of Indians. And 76 percent of Indians and 51 percent of Chinese said family ties were strong factors.
Respondents took pride in contributing to their home country's economic development. More than 60 percent of Indians and 51 percent of Chinese rated it as very important. Government incentives weren't at all important for Indians, but were very important to 23 percent of Chinese. Only 10 percent of Indians and Chinese said they left the U.S. because they had to; others may have been frustrated with their visa situation but had other, more important reasons for returning home.
How does their situation in their native countries compare to the U.S.? Surprisingly, 72 percent of Indian and 81 percent of Chinese returnees said the opportunities to start their own businesses were better in their home countries. Speed of professional growth was also better back home for the majority of Indians (54 percent) and Chinese (68 percent). And the quality of life was better or at least equal to what they'd enjoyed in the U.S. for 56 percent of Indians and 59 percent of Chinese.