Segregation dimensions and development differentials of ethnic enclave

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to employ enclave economy in the perspective of economic sociology to explain the existence and process of the Thai enclave in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth interviews and case studies are employed in relation to Thai restaurant and grocery shop owners and employees in Hong Kong. Findings – This study is an attempt to explain the clustering of Thai ethnic small businesses in Kowloon City through a discourse on the ethnic enclave economy. The Thai migrant enclave in Hong Kong is explored with dimensions of segregation, namely evenness, exposure, clustering, concentration and centralization (Massey and Denton’s, 1988). This study suggests that these Thai enclave businesses have two differentials compared to the findings of Zhou (1992) in Chinatown restaurants in New York. Social implications – The findings provide evidences for social workers, migrant associations and policy makers in developing ideas of ethnic business enabling. There should be wide range of supporting and welfare policies for the empowerment of migrants and minority ethnic groups. An immigrant enclave should no longer be regarded as a ghetto for many business chances can be found there. Originality/value – Two ethnic economy development differentials are developed. First, ethnicity similarity between the minority group and the majority ethnic enables ethnic business accessing earlier to an interethnic clientele from wider society. Second, internal factors of the ethnic enclave and external factors of the wider society have constrained the diversification of ethnic business.

The influence of job accessibility on local residential segregation of ethnic minorities: A study of Hong Kong

“…Although they reflect certain highly localised patterns, the RS clusters are basically consistent with previous findings on ethnic minority enclaves in Hong Kong (e.g., Chan, 2015a,b; Law & Lee, 2012). For example, during the colonial period, Yuen Long in Western NT and Jordan in Kowloon both housed British military operations; given that the colonial government recruited members of South Asian communities, including Indians and Nepalese, it should not be surprising that these areas have evolved into economic centres for ethnic enclaves (Law & Lee, 2012).…”

“…We expect this will provide a more comprehensive picture of spatial mismatch within an urban development context. Furthermore, previous studies have found that enclave economies (e.g., industries operated by ethnic groups within their enclaves) offer employment paths alternative to the mainstream labour market (e.g., Chan, 2015a,b; Zhou, 2004). However, more research is needed to understand how enclave economies might affect spatial mismatch and minority groups' employment opportunities.…”

Managing the non-integration of transient migrant workers: Urban strategies of enclavisation and enclosure in Singapore

“…In this literature, the concepts of ‘enclave’ and ‘enclosure’ as applied to migrants signify segregation (whether spatial, political, cultural, emotional or economic) from mainstream society. Ethnic immigrant enclaves often refer to migrant residential concentration or clustering of a visible level of ethnic exclusivity, and may be presented both positively as vibrant sites/attractions of valuable economic, social and cultural resources, or more pejoratively as ghettos associated with malaise, marginalisation and undesirable ‘signs of failure’ (Chan, 2015; Chimienti and van Liempt, 2015; Kroeker-Maus, 2014: 19; Shin, 2018). While traditional assimilationists forecast that immigrant enclaves will eventually diminish/disperse with the progressive acculturation and accommodation of migrants, neo-Weberian theorists consider the enclave as a spatial form of social closure based partly on exclusionary politics and partly on migrants’ strategic choice.…”

Hierarchical microcredit networks

“…More borrowing from friends and relatives is usually needed. An alternative is to form a partnership business with them to pool the initial capital (Light, 2005; Bates, 2011; Chan, 2015). Once again, the network helps.…”