Search Results (34)

This theoretical paper examines immigrant women’s entrepreneurship in the post-pandemic Global South. We challenge conventional models that fail to capture economic engagement driven by necessity and survival. Using an intersectional lens, the analysis illuminates how structural vulnerabilities such as—gender, class, income, migratory status, and social hostility—hinder formal market integration. COVID-19 related restrictions exacerbated this precarity, disproportionately affecting informal businesses. We contend that entrepreneurship serves as a pivotal strategy for socio-economic resilience and our findings advocate for holistic public policies that transcend microcredit by integrating psychosocial support, language acquisition, and anti-discrimination measures. Furthermore, we underscore the role of collective strategies and community networks in ensuring business sustainability and shifting the focus toward systemic inclusion. By evidencing how entrepreneurship, when embedded in supportive policies and collective networks, contributes to mental health protection, stress reduction, and psychosocial well-being, this paper highlights immigrant women’s entrepreneurship as a relevant strategy for health promotion and social resilience in the Global South. Full article

Evangelical immigrants from the Global South have a high degree of confidence in their own ability to start a business in the UK, and they report a significant amount of entrepreneurial engagement within their communities. This article explores how these Christians developed their skills and dispositions, how they are launching businesses in the UK, and—most importantly—how the action of God can be perceived through their experiences. The author constructs a metanarrative which begins in the Global South. Through their encounter with evangelical faith, women and men are developing the ‘spiritual capital’ that has historically been proven to foster entrepreneurship. In many instances, however, this potential for success lies latent in a societal context that hampers and threatens entrepreneurial enterprise. The story then shifts to the UK. When these evangelicals immigrate, many find success in business as they choose to put their spiritual capital to work. It is here argued that the actions of God can be discerned within this story. In the same way that God acted in Biblical times to raise the helpless and to bless exiles in a foreign land, so he seen by his people to be working today. Full article

The Peranakan Chinese, formed through intermarriage between Chinese immigrants and Southeast Asian indigenous people, represent a unique example of cultural amalgamation. As modern society evolves, the conservation of their culture faces significant challenges, particularly in balancing heritage preservation with contemporary relevance. Addressing how Peranakan cultural products can meet the functional and emotional needs of modern audiences while achieving sustainable cultural development is a question worthy of in-depth exploration. This study uses the “SR” furniture series from Singapore’s “I” brand as a case study to examine how cultural products can integrate Peranakan heritage into modern life while promoting cultural conservation. Guided by affordance theory and thematic analysis, this research identifies four key strategies: (1) Cultural Integration and Expression; (2) Modern Innovation in Furniture Design; (3) Promotion and Sustainability; and (4) Social Engagement and Education. Based on these strategies, this study proposes a framework for cultural conservation in furniture development. This framework offers actionable strategies for designers, businesses, and policymakers to create products that meet both functional and emotional needs while fostering cultural conservation and adaptation in a globalized context. Full article

The immigrant guildhall was an important landscape element in the cities of Sichuan during the Qing Dynasty. This study explores the attribute characteristics, spatial distribution characteristics, and spatial layout rules of immigrant guildhalls by examining the Chengdu prefectural city during the Qing Dynasty as an example, using qualitative logical induction, GIS spatial analysis, and spatial syntax. The results show the following. (1) Immigrant guildhalls were civic buildings with a low level of support for the official regime. They had a grand scale, prominent building height, and unique architectural shape. (2) The layout rules for immigrant guildhalls included keeping immigrant guildhalls a certain distance from the dominant administrative, cultural, and educational facilities. Immigrant guildhalls had limited participation in the construction of the main axis of the city but partially participated in the construction of the secondary axis of the city. Immigrant guildhalls were mainly located in areas with well-developed businesses and convenient road transportation. (3) The official adopts two methods, control and utilization, to enable immigrant guildhalls to participate in the construction of the urban landscape order. These findings reveal the characteristics of the layout of immigrant guildhalls in the city during the Qing Dynasty and provide a basis for understanding the construction order of traditional Chinese cities. Full article

The purpose of the study is to investigate the notion of Necessity-driven Entrepreneurs (NDEs) and Opportunity-driven Entrepreneurs (ODEs) among IME (Immigrant Micro Enterprise) owners in the hospitality industry and how changes in motivational traits influence business practices, innovation, and growth aspirations. In many geographical contexts, the ever-challenging hospitality industry is dominated by businesses that are immigrant-owned and of micro sizes that experience additional challenges compared to their native and large counterparts. Through qualitative research and interviews with 18 owners of restaurants and eateries in the IME category in eastern Norway, the study found that while NDE traits are dominant during start-ups, ODE traits also exist, revealing a dynamic relationship between the two and thus problematic to classify hospitality IMEs as either NDE or ODE. Experiences and close customer interactions rather than formal R&D activities inspire changes and innovations in business practices, growth aspirations, and perceptions of success. This study offers new insights into hospitality IME owners’ motivations and goals, which may be relevant in other similar industries and geographical contexts. It underscores the importance of understanding the interplay of NDE and ODE traits among IME owners and their impact on business success in the challenging industry in which they operate. Full article

This paper investigates the key drivers influencing the internationalization of agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (agri-SMEs) in Latin America, with a particular emphasis on the role of social and ethnic networks. Focusing on Argentina, Brazil, and Chile—three of the region’s largest agricultural economies—this study examines how familial and cultural connections between descendants of European immigrants and European entrepreneurs facilitate the global expansion of agri-SMEs. Using a cross-sectional quantitative analysis, data from agri-SME managers reveal the importance of these networks in reducing market entry barriers by providing insider knowledge of foreign markets, regulatory conditions, and potential business partnerships. The findings demonstrate that ethnic networks significantly reduce market entry barriers, providing Latin American agri-SMEs access to essential insider knowledge on foreign markets and local regulations, thereby facilitating internationalization. Additionally, agri-SMEs that leverage these networks are better positioned to meet growing global demands for sustainable, traceable food products, gaining a competitive advantage in international markets. The strength and frequency of interactions within ethnic networks are positively correlated with the degree of internationalization, highlighting the importance of social capital in overcoming operational challenges. This paper contributes to the literature by highlighting the underexplored role of ethnic networks in shaping the international marketing strategies of agricultural firms and their capacity to adapt to evolving consumer behaviors. The study offers practical insights for supporting the global integration of agri-SMEs in Latin America, addressing both operational challenges and the increasing need for sustainable food production practices. Full article

This paper explores the interaction between immigrant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the entrepreneurial ecosystems of their home and host countries. These SMEs, often established out of necessity due to economic hardship or unemployment, contrast with opportunity-driven ventures that seek to exploit new market prospects. Employing a dynamic capabilities framework, the study investigates how immigrant SMEs identify and mobilize critical resources in unstable environments, and how these resources are dynamically adapted and transformed to meet organizational objectives while responding to ecosystem changes, ultimately cultivating competitive advantages. Interviews were conducted with 25 immigrant entrepreneurs from eight countries, and the interviews took place within their business environments, with native speakers of the interviewees′ home countries present to ensure accuracy and authenticity. The findings highlight that immigrant entrepreneurs effectively leverage resources from both home and host country ecosystems, with human capital being the most essential asset. Additionally, the role of immigrants′ social networks is emphasized as a crucial mechanism for resource acquisition. This study further illustrates the positive contributions of immigrant enterprises to entrepreneurial ecosystems, revealing a co-evolutionary relationship whereby the businesses and ecosystems both mutually evolve. This co-evolution strengthens the resilience and sustainability of immigrant ventures, significantly enhancing their long-term success. Full article

With the improvement of social production efficiency and the enhancement of the supply chain system, the traditional linear supply chain model is gradually evolving into a more complex and dynamic industrial chain network. This article uses complex network theory combined with the basic attributes of the industrial chain and supply chain to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the integrated circuit industry chain. Firstly, a cooperative network model of the integrated circuit industry chain in Shaanxi Province is established based on the supply chain relationships of enterprises. Secondly, the study analyzes the basic characteristics of the collaborative network model. Thirdly, this study explores the efficiency, resilience, and innovation capacity of industrial chains using a novel set of indexes: the industry chain efficiency index (ICEI), the industry chain resilience index (ICRI), and the industry chain innovation capability index (ICICI). By employing principal component analysis (PCA), the study provides a comprehensive evaluation of industrial chain performance. The findings reveal that the ICEI highlights the critical importance of average path length and network density, showing that shorter paths and higher density are associated with greater efficiency. The ICRI emphasizes the roles of average degree and standard deviation, indicating that higher connectivity and lower variability contribute to resilience. The ICICI identifies the clustering coefficient and network density as key factors, suggesting that tight-knit networks foster innovation. These results offer significant insights into the dynamics of industrial chain collaboration and provide practical recommendations for enhancing supply chain management. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through a case study. The results of the case study indicate the following: (1) Key Enterprises’ Identification: The analysis identified key enterprises like Samsung Semiconductor and HT-tech with the highest betweenness centrality, highlighting their crucial intermediary roles within the network; (2) Efficiency and Innovation Assessment: Compared with foreign-owned and other immigrant businesses, local businesses generally perform below average in terms of efficiency and resilience, indicating that there is room for improvement in technology adoption and innovation capabilities. Full article

The southeast Asian new immigrants face significant barriers in employment due to language and cultural differences, making it challenging for them to find jobs. Consequently, many southeast Asian immigrants have turned to entrepreneurship as a means to achieve economic independence and contribute to their family’s income. This study adopts entrepreneurial marketing (EM) as a theoretical lens and utilizes a process research methodology, based on sequentially ordered events, to explore the entrepreneurial journey of immigrant micro and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Employing purposive sampling, twenty-two southeast Asian immigrant entrepreneurs were selected for in-depth interviews to ensure data quality through multiple data collection methods. The research developed a dynamic adjustment model and management mechanisms for the entrepreneurial marketing of immigrant micro and SMEs. These findings not only bridge theoretical gaps in immigrant entrepreneurship strategy but also deepen the academic understanding of the dynamism in entrepreneurial marketing. Practically, the outcomes assist immigrant micro and small business entrepreneurs in developing operational strategies and serve as a reference for governmental units in crafting immigrant policies. Full article

In this article, I explore the ways that women of the Korean diaspora engage in cultural meaning-making through material culture in efforts to redefine what it means for people, things, and ideas to be considered “authentically Korean”. Using the case study of famous internet chef Maangchi, I examine one of her best-selling cookbooks and her digital presence to identify the tactics she uses to exert agency in the meaning-making and community-building process, using Korean food and her role as a maternal figure as vehicles for analysis. Due to her roles as a mother and her positioning as a quintessential immigrant subject in the US context, I argue that Maangchi challenges colonial and Eurocentric models of cultural authenticity as part of a long history of women of color that actively disrupt social perceptions of value, expertise, and knowledge production. By exploring her business ventures, I consider how embedded pieces of knowledge, racialization, perceived expertise, and cultural assumptions are all connected to challenge the historical concepts and applications of authenticity in favor of a more inclusive, radical, and politically potent understanding of what truly makes something “Korean”. Full article

Although immigrants represent a sizeable and growing portion of the total U.S. population and immigrant entrepreneurs play an important role in the U.S. economy, they remain relatively understudied within the literature. Existing research suggests that immigrants are more likely to start a business than non-immigrants in the U.S. and face unique challenges while doing so. This paper attempts to contribute to the existing literature by examining the impact of entrepreneurial competencies of immigrant entrepreneurs on their firms’ performance. Given that entrepreneurial success, performance, and growth depend heavily on entrepreneurial competencies, we develop a conceptual discussion and three propositions indicating that immigrant-owned firm performance is influenced by three specific competencies held by immigrant entrepreneurs: proficiency in the host country’s language, knowledge about the host country, and cultural intelligence. Following a review of the literature and the development of the propositions, we discuss implications, limitations, and future research directions for researchers and practitioners. Full article

This qualitative study explored the commonalities and differences among the experiences of visible minority Transnational Carer–Employees (TCEs) before and after COVID-19. TCEs are immigrants who live and work in the country of settlement while providing caregiving across international borders. Purposive and snowball sampling resulted in the participation of 29 TCEs of Pakistani, Syrian, African, and South American origin living in London, Ontario. Thematic analysis of the dataset using the ATLAS.ti software, Version 23.2.1., generated three themes: (1) feelings associated with transnational care; (2) employment experiences of TCEs; and (3) coping strategies for well-being. The results of the secondary analysis conducted herein suggested that there are more similarities than differences across the four cohorts. Many participants felt a sense of satisfaction at being able to fulfill their care obligations; however, a different outlook was observed among some Syrian and African origin respondents, who disclosed that managing care and work is overwhelming. Most TCEs also reported facing limited job options because of language barriers. While various interviewees experienced a lack of paid work and reduced income after COVID-19, a distinct perspective was noted from African descent TCEs as they expressed facing increased work demands after the pandemic. Participants additionally revealed four common coping strategies such as keeping busy, praying, family support, and staying active. Study implications include the promotion of Carer-Friendly Workplace Policies (CFWPs) that can facilitate the welfare of unpaid caregivers. This research is important as it may inform policymakers to create opportunities that may not only foster economic stability of TCEs and the Canadian economy, but also contribute towards a more equitable society. Full article

Through the theoretical frameworks of the media system dependency model and uses and gratifications theory, this study examined the uses of social media by Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey. A mixed-methods approach was used to increase the credibility and validity of the study’s findings by combining a qualitative method with quantitative data. The findings show that there were some factors that affected the Syrian refugees’ use of social media before seeking refuge in Jordan and Turkey, which were mainly its ban due to the regime’s censorship and a bad Internet connection due to the bad infrastructure. The absence of these two factors led to an increase in their social media dependency after seeking refuge. There are variances in which social media sites Syrian refugees use the most and why. The majority relied on Facebook for various reasons, and this dependency had varying repercussions on individuals. Furthermore, many immigrants were acquainted with new platforms, implying that refugees became social-media-literate and participated in the updates of the new platforms, even if such sites were not well known to the general public. The Syrian refugees’ dependency on social media varies from person to person due to differences in personal goals, social status, locations, living characteristics, and easy access to the Internet. Furthermore, this dependency on social media has different effects on them according to the media system dependency model. The refugees become increasingly dependent on social media to satisfy their needs and, because of that, social media dependency will become more important in their lives and will increase its influence and effects on them. Furthermore, the study found that the Syrian refugees depended on social media for various gratifications, such as educational, work, and business; information access; cultural and social aspects; connecting with networks and families; establishing friendships; learning new skills; self-expression; making business; and finding work, in addition to reaching routes and contacting smugglers to help them leave the country. Full article

Research shows that immigration is often associated with less crime. Yet, what remains unclear is why this is the case. The primary explanation for why immigration reduces crime, according to scholars, is the immigration revitalization thesis. This perspective argues that immigration revitalizes communities by promoting local business growth, bolstering social ties, and enhancing conventional institutions (e.g., churches, voluntary organizations), which then reduce crime. These ideas, however, have never been tested. Using longitudinal data from 139 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) between 2000 and 2019, we examine whether the relationship between immigration and violent crime is mediated by changes in the percentage of households headed by married couples, number of ethnic businesses, and/or number of immigrant/ethnic-oriented organizations. The results from the generalized structural equation models (GSEM) and mediation tests offer some support for the immigration revitalization perspective. Full article

Tourism forecasting is one of the most important aspects of tourism studies in today’s competitive environment. It is crucial not only for tourism businesses to understand and foresee trends and future changes, but also for government agencies to develop the competitiveness of their tourism sectors in order to stay competitive or even outperform other tourist destinations. The purpose of this research is to conduct tourism forecasting using the Delphi technique and to collect data from experts in the field of tourism and hospitality, providing useful information about the future of Thailand’s tourism directions and sustainable development. The results show that Thailand could maintain its tourism strengths in many aspects, including tourism attractions for tourists from various income groups, and the cultural uniqueness of “Thai-ness”. Thailand’s tourism capabilities can support the growing importance of tourism development in Southeast Asia. In addition, the research findings reveal some areas for improvement for Thai tourism to support sustainable tourism development, including the necessity for improving the quality of training programs for human resources in tourism-related organizations, a less strict immigration policy, the adoption of new information technology, and more updated tourism information. The discussion of findings and practical implications for sustainable tourism development are also discussed in detail. Full article