The embeddedness of illegal entrepreneurship in a closed ethnic community

The trouble with culture: A speculative account of the role of gypsy/traveller cultures in ‘doorstep fraud’

“…Exploring the possibilities of ethnic specialization in offending could be one approach. Such research will need to consider whether there are opportunities afforded by any particular cultural beliefs, preferences or interests, including of the white majority, the nature of racism and discrimination in the legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures, and whether offending patterns are linked to circular migration, diasporic networks, or ethnic enclaves (R Smith and McElwee, 2013).…”

Borders of immersive fieldwork - a methodological critique of entrepreneurship

“…What such an individualistic view entails is the narrowing of methodological approaches for the field of entrepreneurship and, with it, the doubt on more holistic and social constructivist approaches to the entrepreneurs. Whilst this individualistic view (both theoretical and methodologically) has been challenged, including by Ged and others (Anderson et al, 2012; Dodd et al, 2021; Drakopoulou Dodd and Anderson, 2007; Lassalle and McElwee, 2016; Smith and McElwee, 2013a, 2013b; Somerville and McElwee, 2011), it still constitutes the main paradigm of most entrepreneurship journals.…”

“…Such an approach is not maintainable from a truly qualitative and methodologically rigorous research perspective. The real research challenge is to understand the actual qualitative context (Lassalle and McElwee, 2016; Smith and McElwee, 2013b). Putting a notion of being heroic or not, correct or not, is judgemental and against the research moral.…”

The driving motives behind informal entrepreneurship: The effects of economic-financial crisis, recession and inequality

“…Diverse studies have generated a rising level of recognition of the extent to which entrepreneurs, whether partially or totally, operate in the informal sector, especially when starting out in business (Bureau and Fendt, 2011; Gurtoo and Williams, 2009; Small Business Council, 2004; Smith and McElwee, 2013). Thus, the literature has flourished through expanding its scope to analyse such diverse questions as: the characteristics of informal entrepreneurs (Aidis et al, 2006; Williams and Nadin, 2012a), their motives for operating informally (Anderson and Smith, 2007; Williams et al, 2012, 2013) and what might enable and facilitate their incorporation into the formal sector (Barbour and Llanes, 2013; Williams and Nadin, 2012a, 2012b, 2013, 2014).…”