Ethnic Entrepreneurs: Immigrant Business in Industrial Societies

Everywhere immigrants settle in advanced Western societies, ethnic minority businesses flourish - whether they be Turkish tailors in Amsterdam, Moroccan grocers in Paris or Chinese restaurateurs in New York. This book examines the phenomenon of minority business development in industrial societies. Contributions by seventeen of the leading business researchers in the world challenge the conventional 'wisdom' which claims that immigrants do well in business because their culture makes them entrepreneurial. Rather, they show how the development of a particular ethnic minority business is always the product of unique, historical circumstances. These include opportunities for newcomers, ethnic group characteristics, and strategies used to exploit entrepreneurial options. They also show that not all groups are equally interested in the business ownership option for advancement or equally successful at it. They explain why immigrants from diverse ethnic groups differentially attempt to go into business and why their fates differ. They present data on the success of various ethnic groups in business in the United States, the United Kingdom and France and suggest policy options which might help the economic advancement of ethnic minority communities through business ownership. The volume is a well-written blend of quantitative, historical and case study data supporting a well-argued thesis, drawing on the literature of a variety of disciplines and approaches. It is essential reading for those studying race relations or involved in small business research, cross-cultural reseach and other related subjects.Waldinger, Roger is the author of 'Ethnic Entrepreneurs: Immigrant Business in Industrial Societies', published 1990 under ISBN 9780803937109 and ISBN 0803937105.