Ethnic entrepreneurship in comparative perspective

Abstract

The growing participation of ethnic minorities in self‐employment has been a conspicuous feature of the small business scene in many European countries. Reports on a comparative examination of entrepreneurship among ten Maghrebian businesses in Lyon, France and ten mainly Pakistani businesses in Birmingham, England. Considers the motivating factors for entrepreneurship, the financing of the firms and their markets. The division of labour by gender in each firm was also considered as well as the wider institutional and political contexts in which they operate in the two countries. Of overriding significance are the similarities between the firms in terms of motivation, markets and the importance of family labour, despite differences between national policies towards “ethnic minorities”.