Premium
Migration of Entrepreneurs from Hong Kong: Background, Trendsand Impacts
Author(s) -
SKELDON RONALD
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
new zealand geographer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1745-7939
pISSN - 0028-8144
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7939.1999.tb00544.x
Subject(s) - china , entrepreneurship , context (archaeology) , ethnic group , interpretation (philosophy) , economic geography , political science , demographic economics , geography , sociology , economics , archaeology , computer science , law , programming language
This paper critically examines the movement of entrepreneurs from Hong Kong within the context of whether Chinese culture predisposes them to become entrepreneurs: that the type of business relations and networks that the Chinese employ is in some way distinct from those of other groups because of Confucianism and unique ‘Asian values’. This interpretation is found severely wanting. Entrepreneurs are seen to be but one type of migrant from China and Hong Kong, and there are significant differences within Chinese migrant groups. We need to move away from vague cultural explanations to consider the context in which migrant groups find themselves before a satisfactory analytical framework for ethnic entrepreneurship can be constructed. The case of entrepreneurs moving to Canada is taken to illustrate recent policy changes and the impact of entrepreneurs on destination economies.