SIXTH INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS CONFERENCE

WORKSHOP 30: Immigrants in Self-employment: Causes and Consequences

Wednesday, November 28, 2001
16:00 - 17:30


ORGANIZER

Peter S. Li
University of Saskatchewan
Tel. 306-966-6936
Fax. 306-966-6953
e-mail: Li@sask.usask.ca

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Despite the growth of the wage labour market in advanced industrial countries, some immigrants pursue self-employment as a means of establishing themselves.  Thus far, the literature has produced conflicting results regarding the causes and consequences of immigrants’ self-employment.  Historically, immigrants chose self-employment mainly because of restricted employment opportunities.  More recently, some American studies show that the growth of immigrant enclaves creates new opportunities for ethnic businesses and brings lucrative returns for immigrant entrepreneurs.  Findings are also inconclusive as to what type of immigrants enters into self-employment, and whether those who do so have comparable returns as their salaried counterparts.  The purpose of the workshop is the explore the causes and consequences of immigrant self-employment in different countries to see how and why immigrants choose self-employment, and what labour market outcomes result from such engagement.  Immigrants’ self-employment experiences in different countries are compared to see if common explanations can be developed.  Research on immigrants’ self-employment helps to frame policies regarding the economic integration of immigrants, since self-employment represents a novel means by which immigrants mobilize resources to create new economic opportunities.

The workshop is designed to include academic presenters and policy makers.  The chair will make some general remarks to facilitate comparison of immigrants’ experience of self-employment in different countries.  Presenters are asked to address their findings with a view to raise policy issues.  The discussant is then expected to integrate the papers and present a critique of the presentation with respect to their academic merits and policy implications.  The workshop will allow sufficient for general discussion.

DURATION: one session 

Chair :

Peter Li, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Presenters:

(1) Frank N. Pieke, University of Oxford, UK

"On peddlers, workers and businessmen: towards a processual approach to migration and employment among the Chinese in Europe, 1900-2000"

(2) Jock Collins, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

“Immigrant Self-employment in Australia”

(3) David Ip, University of Queensland, Australia

"Battlers and Entrepreneurs: Patterns of Self Employment Among Chinese Immigrants in Australia".

(4) Krishna Pendakur, Simon Fraser University and Ravi Pendakur, Strategic Research and Analysis, Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada

"Labour Market Discrimination and Self Employment---White - Visible Minority Earnings Differentials Among Canadian-Born Self Employed Workers"