Ana Espinosa Seguí Human Geography Department University of Alicante (Spanien) Photography taken by Ana Espinosa Seguí in Brussels, 2007
MAIN POINTS OF DISCUSSION 0.- What is ethnic? 1.- What is ethnic economy? 2.- How is it established? 3.- Which agents participate in the ethnic economy? 4.- Is ethnic economy important for social integration?
1.- What is ethnic economy? - Ethnic economy is perceived as an alternative avenue of economic attainment (success) among immigrants through their ethnic resources and ties (Fong & Ooka, 2000) - According to Bonacich, Modell and Light, ethnic economy includes any (ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TAKEN BY ANY) immigrant or ethnic group s selfemployed, employers and coethnic employees - Economy control - Employment network control
What is ethnic economy? Geography Sociology Economy
2.- How is established? Sociocultural Entrepreneurial Institutional Economic Territorial BASIS Try to find at least one explanation for each of these reasons
Source: http://www.metropoleruhr.de/ (Accessed 01/03/2011)
Foreigners Extranjeros 25,5 24,9 Germans Alemanes 9,7 9,4 Women Mujeres 11,2 11,1 Men Hombres Global population Total de la población 11,3 10,7 11,2 10,9 0 5 10 15 20 25 30(%) 2009 2010 Source: http://www.metropoleruhr.de/ (Accessed 01/03/2011)
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? Try to make a list of agents with your partners and analyse their roles 5 minutes
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? Entrepreneurs Consumers Retail environment or competitors Territory
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? - Ethnic entrepreneurs are simultaneosuly owners, managers or operators of their own businesses. - They belong to groups that have a common cultural heritage and/or origin. - Two main kinds of ethnic entrepreneurs can be distinguished: a)middleman minority entrepreneurs b)ethnic enclave entrepreneurs. (Zhou,2007)
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? a) Middleman minority entrepreneurs - Those who trade in between a society s elite and the masses - Before settling definitely down, they used to travel between the host country and their country of origin in order to make businesses - They can be included in the host society s mainstream economy - Usually, their businesses are not located in not coethnic communities - Few ties to the social structures and social relationships of these local communities (Zhou,2007)
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? b) Ethnic enclave entrepreneurs - Entrepreneurs bounded by ethnicity, ethnic community s social structures and a geographical location - These businesses were born as a answer for satisfying coethnics demands - Businessmen can belong to ethnic enclaves, but also to the middlemen minorities (Zhou,2007)
Some ethnic enclaves can be denatured Source: http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/
- Social capital refers to the networks of social relations that may provide individuals and groups with access to resources and supports (Jeannotte, 2008) - Market niches not used by retailers who belong to the host society (Portes y Sensebrenner, 1993) - The reception in a new country is always easier if immigrants are helped by other immigrants with more know-how
IMMIGRANT NETS (Staring, 2000) Strong links Weak links (Family and close friends) (Colleagues and friends) Funding and work Information about the market Low cost labour Information and Know-how PROVIDE Friendly help Customers and suppliers Business school
ETHNIC RESOURCES Cultural resources: religion, language, social and moral values and entrepreneurial predisposition Material resources Information: advices and orientation Experience: formation
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? Who are the main consumers of these ethnic businesses? - Connationals consumers - Transumers - Consumers from the host society
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? - The institutional structure of each country or region will influence ethnic economy - The territory can provoke three main processes: a) INVASION SUCESSION b) VACANCY CHAIN c) SYNERGY
Which agents are participating in the ethnic economy? - Depending on the offer of other retailers, the area will create a synergy or will show two circuits of businesses. - The biggest will be the offer of ethnic business, the densest will be the relationships between businessmen and consumers
What is Social Integration for you? Could you prepare a definition? (in groups) How is possible to achieve this social integration of immigrant population?
What is Social Integration? The stability of relationships between parts of a socia system The process that links, improve and maintain together different elements, creating a new structure Definition of Fundación Europea para la Mejora de las Condiciones de Vida y de Trabajo
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