Race, Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship in Urban America (Sociology and Economics) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0202305066 ISBN 13: 9780202305066

Publisher: Aldine Transaction, 1995

Synopsis

The authors have assembled a vast body of census data to address cutting-edge issues in entrepreneurship, immigration, urban studies, economic sociology, and social policy. In a novel research formulation, they compare the 272 largest metropolitan regions of the United States in respect to the entrepreneurship of various ethno-racial groups. Such a method permits them to vary the local economic environment and resource profiles of all major categories. Virtually all previously available data on these issues relied upon averages and overlooked inter-local variation within and among groups.

Interpreting the voluminous data, which summarize the economic behavior of 100 million people, Ivan Light and Carolyn Rosenstein first explain resources theory (a supply-side formulation), providing a complete review of the large theoretical literature on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship. They then address the other major theoretical concerns in the existing literature of social science, among them the interactionist theory of entrepreneurship and the possible effect of disadvantage upon entrepreneurship. The latter issue, an important and long-standing one, receives careful and decisive examination that eventuates in a theoretically elegant solution.

A final chapter discusses social policy. The authors contrast liberal and conservative assumptions about entrepreneurship, faulting both. Locating entrepreneurship outside the usual framework of manpower policy, the authors make a case for a supply-side policy science of entrepreneurship that is neutral in political implication. Light and Rosenstein then suggest how policy might proceed to integrate two generations of social science research. Their closing discussion relates policy implications to the economic development of inner cities in America.

About this title

Review:

"In this example of social science research at its best, Light and Rosenstein present well-written and thorough reviews of the major theories and issues affecting the rate and form of entrepreneurship in urban America. They systematically test these theories generally and many of their specific propositions using contemporary and historical data . . . [I]t should be required reading for academics, economic development employees, government officials, and everyone interested in improving the economic conditions of their communities. Upper-division undergraduates and above."

--P. McGuire, Choice

"In their Race Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship, Ivan Light and Carolyn Rosenstein 'seek to rectify shortcomings of the existing literature' and to place theories of immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship upon firmer empirical grounds by examining self-employment patterns of major US ethnoracial categories in 272 metropolitan areas, based on the 1980 PUMS data . . . [T]he authors' overall conceptual and methodological discussions are illuminating . . . I cannot but emphasize the significance of the book. It has provided the most comprehensive and most systematic data analyses to date to test hypotheses derived from major theories on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship . . . [I]t is a book that should be read by all who conduct research on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship."

--Pyong Gap Min, Journal of American Ethnic History

"This book examines an economic trend that is one of the most important in characterizing the second half of this century--the unforeseen dramatic growth in entrepreneurship . . . In forming a 'framework' that orients and guides us, Light and Rosenstein divide potential resources into culture and class resources, which have the merit of being inclusive and integrative of the work of a number of other investigators."

--Kenneth L. Wilson, Social Forces

"In this example of social science research at its best, Light and Rosenstein present well-written and thorough reviews of the major theories and issues affecting the rate and form of entrepreneurship in urban America. They systematically test these theories generally and many of their specific propositions using contemporary and historical data . . . [I]t should be required reading for academics, economic development employees, government officials, and everyone interested in improving the economic conditions of their communities. Upper-division undergraduates and above."

--P. McGuire, Choice

"In their Race Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship, Ivan Light and Carolyn Rosenstein 'seek to rectify shortcomings of the existing literature' and to place theories of immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship upon firmer empirical grounds by examining self-employment patterns of major US ethnoracial categories in 272 metropolitan areas, based on the 1980 PUMS data . . . [T]he authors' overall conceptual and methodological discussions are illuminating . . . I cannot but emphasize the significance of the book. It has provided the most comprehensive and most systematic data analyses to date to test hypotheses derived from major theories on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship . . . [I]t is a book that should be read by all who conduct research on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship."

--Pyong Gap Min, Journal of American Ethnic History

"This book examines an economic trend that is one of the most important in characterizing the second half of this century--the unforeseen dramatic growth in entrepreneurship . . . In forming a 'framework' that orients and guides us, Light and Rosenstein divide potential resources into culture and class resources, which have the merit of being inclusive and integrative of the work of a number of other investigators."

--Kenneth L. Wilson, Social Forces

"Race, Ethnicity and Entrepreneurship in Urban America is an exemplary book. It offers a detailed but easily readable review of key theories and concepts in the field of self-employment together with very useful new concepts and analysis of a nationwide data set on self-employment among ethnic groups in American society. . . . Seasoned with lively and entertaining examples, this book offers much to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, professionals, and policy-makers."

--Steven J. Gold, American Journal of Sociology

"Methodologically, this piece of literature is powerful in its depth. The research desgin, analytical techniques, and displays of summary data display unquestionable adeptness in the mechanics of research and analysis. . . . The book has created a sound basis for ethno-racial entrepreneurship research internationally."

--Damian Hine, Administrative Science Quarterly

"In this example of social science research at its best, Light and Rosenstein present well-written and thorough reviews of the major theories and issues affecting the rate and form of entrepreneurship in urban America. They systematically test these theories generally and many of their specific propositions using contemporary and historical data . . . [I]t should be required reading for academics, economic development employees, government officials, and everyone interested in improving the economic conditions of their communities. Upper-division undergraduates and above."

--P. McGuire, Choice

"In their Race Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship, Ivan Light and Carolyn Rosenstein 'seek to rectify shortcomings of the existing literature' and to place theories of immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship upon firmer empirical grounds by examining self-employment patterns of major US ethnoracial categories in 272 metropolitan areas, based on the 1980 PUMS data . . . [T]he authors' overall conceptual and methodological discussions are illuminating . . . I cannot but emphasize the significance of the book. It has provided the most comprehensive and most systematic data analyses to date to test hypotheses derived from major theories on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship . . . [I]t is a book that should be read by all who conduct research on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship."

--Pyong Gap Min, Journal of American Ethnic History

"This book examines an economic trend that is one of the most important in characterizing the second half of this century--the unforeseen dramatic growth in entrepreneurship . . . In forming a 'framework' that orients and guides us, Light and Rosenstein divide potential resources into culture and class resources, which have the merit of being inclusive and integrative of the work of a number of other investigators."

--Kenneth L. Wilson, Social Forces

"Race, Ethnicity and Entrepreneurship in Urban America is an exemplary book. It offers a detailed but easily readable review of key theories and concepts in the field of self-employment together with very useful new concepts and analysis of a nationwide data set on self-employment among ethnic groups in American society. . . . Seasoned with lively and entertaining examples, this book offers much to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, professionals, and policy-makers."

--Steven J. Gold, American Journal of Sociology

"Methodologically, this piece of literature is powerful in its depth. The research desgin, analytical techniques, and displays of summary data display unquestionable adeptness in the mechanics of research and analysis. . . . The book has created a sound basis for ethno-racial entrepreneurship research internationally."

--Damian Hine, Administrative Science Quarterly

-In this example of social science research at its best, Light and Rosenstein present well-written and thorough reviews of the major theories and issues affecting the rate and form of entrepreneurship in urban America. They systematically test these theories generally and many of their specific propositions using contemporary and historical data . . . [I]t should be required reading for academics, economic development employees, government officials, and everyone interested in improving the economic conditions of their communities. Upper-division undergraduates and above.-

--P. McGuire, Choice

-In their Race Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship, Ivan Light and Carolyn Rosenstein 'seek to rectify shortcomings of the existing literature' and to place theories of immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship upon firmer empirical grounds by examining self-employment patterns of major US ethnoracial categories in 272 metropolitan areas, based on the 1980 PUMS data . . . [T]he authors' overall conceptual and methodological discussions are illuminating . . . I cannot but emphasize the significance of the book. It has provided the most comprehensive and most systematic data analyses to date to test hypotheses derived from major theories on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship . . . [I]t is a book that should be read by all who conduct research on immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship.-

--Pyong Gap Min, Journal of American Ethnic History

-This book examines an economic trend that is one of the most important in characterizing the second half of this century--the unforeseen dramatic growth in entrepreneurship . . . In forming a 'framework' that orients and guides us, Light and Rosenstein divide potential resources into culture and class resources, which have the merit of being inclusive and integrative of the work of a number of other investigators.-

--Kenneth L. Wilson, Social Forces

-Race, Ethnicity and Entrepreneurship in Urban America is an exemplary book. It offers a detailed but easily readable review of key theories and concepts in the field of self-employment together with very useful new concepts and analysis of a nationwide data set on self-employment among ethnic groups in American society. . . . Seasoned with lively and entertaining examples, this book offers much to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, professionals, and policy-makers.-

--Steven J. Gold, American Journal of Sociology

-Methodologically, this piece of literature is powerful in its depth. The research desgin, analytical techniques, and displays of summary data display unquestionable adeptness in the mechanics of research and analysis. . . . The book has created a sound basis for ethno-racial entrepreneurship research internationally.-

--Damian Hine, Administrative Science Quarterly

About the Author:

Ivan Light is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. His work has appeared in Applied Research in Economic Development, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and International Migration Review. His latest book is Deflecting Immigration.

About this edition

• Publisher: Aldine Transaction
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0202305066
• ISBN 13: 9780202305066
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 255
• Editor: Light Ivan