Promoting Hispanic Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Chicago

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of Hispanic immigrant entrepreneurship in Chicago during the 1980s and 1990s a period when the ethno-racial composition of the population changed appreciably and minority businesses grew rapidly. The Census of Business Owners shows rapid growth in the number of businesses, but a shrinking share of total sales generated by minority Hispanic-owned businesses. Using a survey of business owners in Little Village, a Hispanic immigrant community in Chicago, the authors investigated the relatively weaker economic position of Hispanic businesses by examining the pathways to business ownership; the sources of start-up capital; and the role of institutional and informal resources in business start-ups. Comparisons with Koreans, Asians and nonHispanic whites illustrate the sources of Hispanic business precariousness. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR Copyright of Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship is the property of World Scientific Publishing Company and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts)