Ethnic minority entrepreneurship in Britain

Abstract

Unlike the United States, most European countries have repeatedly refused to see themselves as countries of immigration. In the past half century however this has not prevented the arrival and settlement of large numbers from extra-European lands. Labour shortages and other economic factors have allowed the walls of "Fortress Europe" to be comprehensively breached. The majority of newcomers have found their initial employment in the low-wage and low-skill parts of manufacturing, and of service sectors such as office cleaning and restaurants. Just as in the United States however some migrants have begun to enter self-employment, often as a response to lack of progress as an employee. The United Kingdom is a relatively deregulated economy. There are few constraints on the economic activities of those who are legally resident (though asylum seekers are an exception). Immigrants are thus able to set up in any business for which they can raise sufficient capital or credit. With the exception of a few sectors such as pharmacy retailing, there are no regulatory constraints on the number of businesses, although all must comply with general rules relating to issues such as town planning and health and safety. Immigrants certainly do not need to obtain bureaucratic permission from government or chamber of commerce in order to start trading.entrepreneurship; ethnic entrepreneurship; ethnic minority self-employment