Characteristics and business profiles of immigrant-owned small firms: the case of African immigrant entrepreneurs in Greece

Halkias, Daphne; Nwajiuba, Chinedum; Harkiolakis, Nicholas; Clayton, Garry; Akrivos, Patrick Dimitris; Caracatsanis, Sylva M.

doi:10.1504/ijbir.2009.027104

Cited by 21 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Meanwhile, Greece has experienced growth in ethnic entrepreneurs migrating from the Balkan area, Albania, and the former Soviet Union. Most immigrants have opened their businesses in cities and succeeded due to their high level of education and entrepreneurial spirits (Halkias, 2007). 3.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unbalanced Development: The Origin of Korea's Self-Employment Problem from a Comparative Perspective

Yun

2011

Journal of Development Studies

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Why does South Korea have a demographically massive and economically vulnerable self-employed population? From a comparative perspective, this study argues that Korea's self-employment problem originated in the country's process of unbalanced development: Korea benefited from the strategy of export-led growth, yet it did not manage the negative impact of this strategy on labour force absorption. The consequence of unbalanced development is the limited capacity of labour markets to absorb the workforce. Therefore, rural migrants in urban areas had no choice but to open small businesses, despite having few financial and technological resources.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unbalanced Development: The Origin of Korea's Self-Employment Problem from a Comparative Perspective

Yun

2011

Journal of Development Studies

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“…As the second intellectual tradition, the enthusiasts of the "ethnic market niche" or "pull" factor hypothesis postulate that immigrants are drawn into self-employment in general and certain sectors by business opportunities. The ethnic market niche hypothesis is formulated around the idea that immigrants find business start-up opportunities in market niches created by the interaction between opportunities in society and the characteristics of the immigrant group (Halkias et al, 2007). Advancing this view, Clark, Drinkwater and Robinson (2015) note that some of the specific components that may move non-natives into self-employment include such things as the existence of ethnic enclaves which may provide a self-sustaining economic environment, the influence of religion, and access to informal sources of finance and labor through familial ties or shared culture and vernacular.…”

Section: The Informal Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Speaking to the third philosophy, the "ethnic enclave" hypothesis presupposes that immigrant entrepreneurs regularly identify business start-up opportunities within the ethnic enclaves and neglected business segments of the broader economy (Halkias et al, 2007). Under this presumption, workers who are sojourners are slated to look for a livelihood in commercial enterprises, where start-up expense is relatively low, where rivalry is insignificant, where capital can be quickly raised, and where assets can be effectively exchanged and transformed into money.…”

Section: The Informal Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of the perceived differences between Somali and native entrepreneurs in South African townships

Hikam¹,

Tengeh²

2016

Environmental Economics

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Using a triangulation of three research methods led by an exploratory intent, the investigation was lodged into the informal businesses conducted by the Somali and native South Africans in a local township; its pervading intention to seek out similarities or differences between both groups. The survey questionnaire, personal interview and focus group discussions were the preferred data collection tools. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the results suggest that there are more differences between both groups than there are similarities. While the areas of similarities included issues confronting all businesses in the township such as legislation and crime, the authors believe that the differences contribute to the perceived competitive advantage accorded Somalis, hence, the tension between both groups. On the one hand, the inter-group differences that worked in favor of Somalis included the fact that because of the factors influencing their displacement, their need to succeed was exaggerated from the onset: they prove to be younger, more motivated, harder working, co-operative and charge less – the combination gives them an undeniable competitive edge. On the other hand, the natives have the following factors in their favor: they pay less rental or none, are more educated, depict a higher level of business training, as well as prior business experience. Though the anecdoctal evidence does not guarantee an accurate prediction of who has the competitive advantage, it, nonetheless, supports the view that labor market discrimination and the fueled desire to survive gives immigrants the motivation to succeed in entrepreneurial ventures in the host country. Keywords: immigrant entrepreneurs, informal trading, South African townships and xenophobia. JEL Classification: M1

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“…Most have settled in the urban centers, primarily in Athens, the nation's capital. This is evidenced in part by the smattering of fresh produce and varied ethnic goods stores owned by Pakistani immigrants in Athens' city center (Halkias et al, ; Tzilivakis, ).…”

Section: Introduction and Purpose Of The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Greece, most immigrants start small businesses in their quest to become economically self‐sufficient, send money back to relatives in their countries of origin, serve the consumer needs of fellow newcomers, and integrate into community life. According to research published by Baldwin‐Edwards of the Mediterranean Migration Observatory (MMO) at Athens Panteio University, up to 2004 more than 80,900 residence permits had been issued to immigrants who declared themselves self‐employed (Halkias et al, ).…”

Section: Introduction and Purpose Of The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Business and Social Profiles of Immigrant‐Owned Small Firms: The Case of Pakistani Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Greece

Halkias¹

2013

International Migration

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This study examines Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs in Greece in order to identify patterns of ethnic entrepreneurship and socio-economic challenges faced by ethnic entrepreneurs. The research aims to enhance understanding of the characteristics and business profiles of Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs in Greece's capital, Athens, and make recommendations for the development of a follow-up three-year longitudinal study of Pakistani immigrant businesses in Athens. A survey administered to 13 Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs recorded a wide range of data from which frequency distributions were processed as well as cross-tabulations and Chisquare tests, to reveal strong associations. Findings of note reveal that Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs set up enterprises with their own capital rather than turning to the private financial sector, are mostly well-educated despite earlier research noting the opposite, Greece is the terminal migration destination of choice for Pakistani immigrant entrepreneurs, their marketshare of work permits is proportionately larger than their residence permit share, they differ from other ethnic groups by substantial preference for operation of call centers, and they are very much bound to their ethnic enclaves. This body of research offers a unique contribution to an area which has until now been largely ignored.

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Characteristics and business profiles of immigrant-owned small firms: the case of African immigrant entrepreneurs in Greece

Cited by 21 publications

References 23 publications

Unbalanced Development: The Origin of Korea's Self-Employment Problem from a Comparative Perspective

Unbalanced Development: The Origin of Korea's Self-Employment Problem from a Comparative Perspective

Drivers of the perceived differences between Somali and native entrepreneurs in South African townships

Business and Social Profiles of Immigrant‐Owned Small Firms: The Case of Pakistani Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Greece

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