Ethnic Entrepreneurial and Marketing Systems: Implications for the Global Economy

The role of immigrant ethnic entrepreneurs in the small business milieu of the developed world has been studied within sociology for the past three decades. This article attempts to generate interest in the study of ethnic entrepreneurs within marketing and international business, especially noting the distinct business and marketing systemic features of ethnic entrepreneurial networks. Using prior literature and the findings from a qualitative study, the authors build some elements of a theory of ethnic business systems and demonstrate aspects on which such systems differ from other business firms and networks, especially in the United States. The authors argue that ethnic enterprises make tremendous contributions to local and international economies while bridging small business, globalization, and the nation-state in interesting ways.