Emerald | Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy | Table of Contents

Social capital, networks, trust and immigrant entrepreneurship: a cross-country analysis

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Ekaterina Turkina, Mai Thi Thanh Thai) — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – This study is devoted to the empirical assessment of the macro-level impact of social capital on immigrant entrepreneurship (the general levels of immigrant entrepreneurship, as well as high-value added immigrant entrepreneurship). Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies multiple regression analysis to the data on immigrant entrepreneurship and high-value added immigrant entrepreneurship provided by OECD. The measures of the independent variables (the components of social capital) are based on World Value Survey. Findings – The results reveal that social capital does play a significant role in high-value added immigrant entrepreneurship in particular and immigrant entrepreneurship in general. With strong statistical significance, three social capital factors – networking, interpersonal trust, and institutional trust – provide an explanation for variations in immigrant entrepreneurship across countries. Originality/value – Although the literature has long pointed out the importance of social capital as a determinant of economic activity, entrepreneurship researchers have focused much attention on the impact of personal, economic, and politico-administrative factors while leaving social capital factors largely unexamined. Thus, study offers a systematic analysis of the effects of social capital on immigrant entrepreneurship and high-value added immigrant entrepreneurship at a macro level and discusses policy-making implications.

Livelihoods or ecopreneurship? Agro-economic experiments in Hambantota, Sri Lanka

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Karl Palmås, Jonas Lindberg) — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – In the context of contemporary debates on ecopreneurship and sustainable livelihoods, this article seeks to compare two programmes to promote a certain type of agro-economic practice among rural farmers. By following the successes and failures of these programmes, the text interrogates how such initiatives are evaluated by the surrounding community of aid agencies and governmental bodies. Design/methodology/approach – Deploying the theoretical notion of “performativity”, as used within economic anthropology, the article posits that the above-mentioned programmes can be construed as economic experiments. More specifically, the text compares two concurrent initiatives: One ecopreneurial experiment instigated by a social entrepreneur, and one livelihoods-focussed experiment instigated by an aid agency. The case study is based upon material from a three-year ethnography of entrepreneurship-promoting programmes in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Findings – While the ecopreneurial venture fails, the livelihoods-based initiative proves successful in demonstrating its economic validity. The case study indicates that, in the context of modes of evaluation focusing on day-to-day incomes of farmers, it may be difficult for ecopreneurs to make room for ecological experimentation. Originality/value – Having identified this “ecopreneur's dilemma”, the article prompts scholars and policy-makers to investigate it further, and potentially re-examine how the livelihoods agenda is implemented in practice.

Entrepreneurship among British Africans: moving forward by looking backward

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Sonny Nwankwo) — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to explore how the complex interrelationship between historical factors and socio-economic contexts contributed in shaping the contemporary representation of African entrepreneurship in Britain. Using this prism, it highlights some of the critical developmental challenges and future prospects. Design/methodology/approach – In order to track the connection between historical/immigration experiences and conditions of entrepreneurial development among Africans in Britain, the paper follows in the tradition of socio-historical method. It leans on syntheses drawn from a broader underpinning literature. Findings – The way in which the historiography of African entrepreneurship is generally presented reveals hybrid and ambivalent positions; guiding as well as constraining the representation of entrepreneurial choices of contemporaneous British Africans. Historical antecedents have strong explanatory powers in the construction or reconstruction of entrepreneurial identities of British Africans. Practical implications – Against the backcloth of the problems generally encountered in attempts to stimulate and support entrepreneurship in black and African communities in Britain, policy designers very often ignore the fact the solutions will have to be sought from within the paradigms that created the problems. The positioning of this paper is intended to begin to plug this gap. Originality/value – The concept of discourse is critical to understanding entrepreneurial processes of British Africans and bears careful explanation to their entrepreneurial transitions. This angle of inquiry is novel, with possibilities for opening new sites of knowledge.

Microfinance and mobile banking for the bottom of the pyramid

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Martha Reeves, Neha Sabharwal) — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to illuminate the necessary features of a microfinance mobile banking platform through the use of agents. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper, not an empirical one. Findings – The authors illuminate the importance of specifiying what successful partnership between the mobile network operator and the microfinance organization must include and they highlight what a mobile application should include. Social implications – There are roughly two billion unbanked mobile phone users who could be served by a partnership between mobile technology and microfinance. This type of partnership begins to address financial exclusivity among the poor. Originality/value – The paper offers an original, detailed solution about how agents and technology can be used to help the poor access mobile banking platforms.

Proposed model of entrepreneurial mindset for the state government higher education institutions in Pakistan

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Javed Nayyar, S. Sohail H. Naqvi) — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – This study is a theoretical debate on corporate entrepreneurship (CE) in the state government higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan with a generally accepted conceptual model. The objective of the study is to measure the mediation effect of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) on the relationship between the structure, managerial strategy, culture, environment and organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach – The inferential statistic is used in order to achieve the objective of this study. Pearson correlation and multiple regressions are used to analyze the findings. Pearson correlation is used to see any association between the independent variables which are structural factors, managerial factors, cultural factors, and environmental factors and the dependent variable which are organizational performance. The association enables the reader to identify whether there is any relationship between the variables. It showed the strength and direction of the relationship. Meanwhile, a regression test was done to identify the predictive ability of each variable towards the organizational performance construct and mediation. Findings – This framework of corporate entrepreneurship in the public sector tertiary education sector may have some uncertain assumptions and statements inconsistent with previous research. Nonetheless, the research framework provides a starting point to develop a more applicable corporate entrepreneurship model to higher education management and enhance the quality of public entrepreneurship research. Social implications – Focusing the effect of mediation between the relationship of four determinant factors, and corporate entrepreneurship on the organizational performance of the schools/faculties of the state government higher education institutions in Pakistan provides some insights for to the schools/faculties' deans into how the integration of some strategies can help in creating the competitive advantage to enhance the overall performance. Originality/value – The working paper is original in its kind that the framework is presented here is a contribution to the knowledge that fulfill the gap of enhancing performance in the state government higher education institutions in Pakistan by presenting an innovative entrepreneurial mindset.