Approximating entrepreneurial superdiversity: reconceptualizing the superdiversity debate in ethnic minority entrepreneurship

Abstract

One decade after its introduction, the superdiversity concept introduced by Steven Vertovec has widely found echoes in migration research, but also in business studies, particularly those focusing on ethnic minority entrepreneurship (EME). In spite of conceptually embracing superdiversity in EME research, the multidimensionality of superdiversity in its original understanding appears to require further consideration. Dimensions currently overlooked in research at the nexus of superdiversity and ethnic minority entrepreneurship are: (1) ethnic but also religious and linguistic diversity of entrepreneurship, (2) entrepreneurial diversity regarding business-types and (3) incorporation of the characteristics of the city within its analytical unit. Based on an extensive site survey of ethnic businesses in Glasgow combining ethnographic assessment and available statistical data on the city districts, this paper reconceptualizes the entrepreneurial superdiversity to do justice to the on-going debates on superdiversity within migration research. In doing so, it proposes the Entrepreneurial Superdiversity Index (ESI), which is a viable method for approximating entrepreneurial superdiversity in cities. The ESI allows comparative analyses of entrepreneurial superdiversity within a specific city and potentially also between different cities internationally, which could be highly useful for policy-makers and planners alike. It also delivers grounds for developing a general index for superdiversity in further migration research.

Trailing Wives and Constrained Agency Among Women Migrant Entrepreneurs: An Intersectional Perspective

“…In a context of increasing transnational migration flows and increasing diversification of societies (Vertovec, 2007), intersectionality is an appropriate lens through which to consider the complexity of situations faced by entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. In this context, calls to consider a wider diversity of attributes has led to a wealth of research on different ethnic minority groups' experiences of entrepreneurship (Ram et al, 2013;Yamamura & Lassalle, 2019). Such studies have considered the impact of the intersectionality arising from dimensions of gender, religion and ethnicity (Al-Dajani et al, 2019;Barrett & Vershinina, 2017;Ozasir Kacar & Essers, 2019;Valdez, 2016).…”

“…In a context of increasing transnational migration flows and increasing diversification of societies (Vertovec, 2007), intersectionality is an appropriate lens through which to consider the complexity of situations faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds situated at the intersection of different complex and oppressive structures, including gender, race, migration, age, sexual orientation, legal status, and class (Bilge, 2014; Hancock, 2007; McCall, 2005). As an activity undertaken by a diverse range of individuals (Ram et al, 2013; Yamamura & Lassalle, 2019), intersectionality is recognized as a suitable theoretical framework for the analysis of entrepreneurship (Essers et al, 2010; Martinez Dy et al, 2017). Despite this, studies of intersectionality are relatively rare within entrepreneurship (Marlow & Martinez Dy, 2018).…”

Does mosque location matter? Mosque and Islamic shops in the European context

“…The majority of the methods regarding ethnic shops have been based on synthesizing pertinent literature (Chiodelli, 2015;Teller et al, 2010) and observation (Devereux et al, 2007;Simon, 2000) or examination (Pieterse, 2003;Shaver & Flyer, 2000). Nevertheless, other approaches have been used as well, such as surveys through simulations (Head et al, 1994); customer satisfaction (Léo & Philippe, 2002); super-diversity, which is diversity within minority groups (Yamamura & Lassalle, 2019); and even conditional logit analysis (Belderbos & Carree, 2002). These approaches have had several limitations.…”

“…Other approaches that have encountered challenges are those based on literature reviews that have failed to include present and new examples. However, quantitative data face obstacles as well, such as the case of super-diversity and its data collection challenges (Yamamura & Lassalle, 2019). An additional possible subjective method is customer satisfaction, but, in this case, bias can be generated by the sample.…”

Global Migration, Entrepreneurship and Society

“…Since then, this traditional view has been challenged and complemented with novel approaches, which break with the ethno-focal lens of the traditional model of migrant and ethnic minority entrepreneurship. Following Vertovec's (2007) seminal work on superdiversity in London, entrepreneurship scholars have started to consider the wider diversity of backgrounds and contexts of migrant entrepreneurial activities (Ram, Theodorakopoulos, & Jones, 2008;Syrett & Sepulveda, 2011;Yamamura & Lassalle, 2019). In addition, the rise of transnationalism has caught attention of migrant entrepreneurship scholars and provided a conceptual opportunity to analyse and understand the complexity and multiple layers of contexts, including movements and flows across borders (Brzozowski, Cucculelli, & Surdej, 2017;Rodgers, Vershinina, Williams, & Theodorakopoulos, 2019).…”