Carlos L. Rodriguez

Social capital as a club good: the case of ethnic communities and entrepreneurship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer the economic theory of clubs as a potential unifying paradigm for the study of ethnic economies and social capital.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the basic concepts of club theory, and reviews the empirical literature. It then applies club theory to the notion of social capital within the context of ethnic communities. It is argued that although various sociological frameworks of social capital and social networks have provided powerful descriptive models of ethnic and immigrant population behaviors, social capital needs to be examined from an economic perspective to increase prescriptive capabilities.Findings – Using club theory the paper conceptualizes the benefits derived from an ethnic grouping – among which social capital can be considered the most important – as a “club” good, supplied at the co‐ethnic level and demanded by the various key stakeholders within an ethnic community. While these benefits are at least partially non‐rivalro...

Church Membership, Social Capital, and Entrepreneurship in Brazilian Communities in the U.S

The authors investigate the degree to which Protestant and Catholic churches differ in terms of their impact on the creation and development of social capital, as well as the ways in which membership in the churches’ social networks affect ethnic entrepreneurship.First, a review of the literature on the relationship between social capital and ethnic entrepreneurship is presented, and it is suggested that the effects of church membership on ethnic entrepreneurial activity remains an under-researched topic.The data used to examine the central research questions were drawn from surveys and interviews that the authors conducted with ethnic Brazilian communities in the Greater Boston area in 2001 and 2002. Analysis of the data indicates that church membership can indeed be an important source of social capital in ethnic communities and that rates and success of entrepreneurial activities in ethnic communities varies as a function of church membership. Although both Catholic and Protestant churches in the ethnic Brazilian communities were regarded as safe places for the development of social networks, Protestant churches appeared to have created a more favorable environment for ethnic entrepreneurship.Differences in the structure and funding of the churches, in the roles of their respective clergy, and in the content of their discourses may explain why the Brazilian Protestant churches seemed more entrepreneur-friendly than the Catholic churches.(SAA)

False Myths and Indigenous Entrepreneurial Strategies

Abstract This paper discusses the theme of indigenous entrepreneurship by exploring some false assumptions repeated not only in the popular press, but also by many academics and policy makers, related to the purported perspective of Native American populations regarding property rights, entrepreneurial behavior, and the productive use of environmental resources. We argue that these historical distortions and myths have engendered the development of misdirected public policies—in particular, the emphasis on communal land use introduced with the reservation system—that prevent these populations from exploring the full potential of entrepreneurial initiatives to overcome the conditions of poverty, unemployment, and low economic growth.

Patterns of Trade in Ethnic Enclaves: A Study of Arab and Hispanic Small Businesses

Abstract This study examines the nature of intra-enclave trade for two ethnic enclaves, Hispanics and Arabs, within a U.S. metropolitan area. Based upon a sample of forty-two small ethnic businesses, a modified enclave input-output table is developed for purchases of materials, services, and labor inputs and sales of outputs. Analysis suggests that ethnic firms tend to rely more upon the ethnic enclave for labor inputs than for other resources. In addition, the study indicates that start-up firms rely more upon intra-enclave economic exchange than more mature ethnic business.

Segurando na mão de Deus: organizações religiosas e apoio ao empreendedorismo

The article investigates mechanisms offered by religious organizations to support entrepreneurial initiatives. We examine two organizations, one catholic and one protestant, using a qualitative case study design. The comparative assessment was based on three dimensions of support that appeared as a result of the data analysis, that we called spaces of information, formation, and motivation. The dimensions are considered as possible important research results and were used to investigate the impact on the traditional stages of the entrepreneurial process of the mechanisms made available by the two religious organizations. The analysis indicates certain similarities between the two cases: church membership assists in the creation of social capital that impacts various economic dimensions, as well as provides religious support to the economic motivations. However, the differences between the two churches become evident in the religious interpretation of economic success and in the articulation and closure of their social networks.The article investigates mechanisms offered by religious organizations to support entrepreneurial initiatives. We examine two organizations, one catholic and one protestant, using a qualitative case study design. The comparative assessment was based on three dimensions of support that appeared as a result of the data analysis, that we called spaces of information, formation, and motivation. The dimensions are considered as possible important research results and were used to investigate the impact on the traditional stages of the entrepreneurial process of the mechanisms made available by the two religious organizations. The analysis indicates certain similarities between the two cases: church membership assists in the creation of social capital that impacts various economic dimensions, as well as provides religious support to the economic motivations. However, the differences between the two churches become evident in the religious interpretation of economic success and in the articulation and closure of their social networks.

The impact of ethnic-religious identification on buyer-seller behaviour: a study of two enclaves

This study examines the behaviour of buyers and sellers in two ethnic enclaves, Catholic Hispanics and Muslim Arabs, within a US metropolitan area. Based upon a sample of 42 small ethnic businesses, a rudimentary activity matrix is constructed for each enclave to reveal the purchases of materials, services, and labour and the sales of finished and semi-finished goods and services. Results suggest that ethnic firms are dependent on co-ethnic business in their enclave, tend to rely more upon the ethnic enclave for labour inputs than for other resources, and that start-up firms rely more on intra-enclave economic exchange than do more mature ethnic firms. The perceived advantage of intra-enclave buying and selling is argued to lie in a sense of ethnic identification that comes primarily from a religion, either Catholic or Muslim, common to each enclave. The dependence on religious organisations for services by new ventures is seen to lessen as the venture matures.

Student Engagement and Enjoyment of Narratives: An Empirical Study of an Authentic Music Video and a Short Teaching Case

ABSTRACT This paper examines the process of student engagement into two narrative-based pedagogical tools (a music video and a short teaching case) often used in university classes to illustrate international and cross-cultural issues, and the effects student engagement has on both enjoyment and the students ability to identify critical themes. The research provides evidence that the degree of a students narrative engagement impacts both thematic comprehension and enjoyment, two important objectives of using narrative-based pedagogical tools in the classroom. The study findings inform the choice of teaching methods for instructors in charge of courses containing international and global topics.

Holding God's hand: religious organizations and support to entrepreneurial initiatives

The article investigates mechanisms offered by religious organizations to support entrepreneurial initiatives. We examine two organizations, one catholic and one protestant, using a qualitative case study design. The comparative assessment was based on three dimensions of support that appeared as a result of the data analysis, that we called spaces of information, formation, and motivation. The dimensions are considered as possible important research results and were used to investigate the impact on the traditional stages of the entrepreneurial process of the mechanisms made available by the two religious organizations. The analysis indicates certain similarities between the two cases: church membership assists in the creation of social capital that impacts various economic dimensions, as well as provides religious support to the economic motivations. However, the differences between the two churches become evident in the religious interpretation of economic success and in the articulation and closure of their social networks.The article investigates mechanisms offered by religious organizations to support entrepreneurial initiatives. We examine two organizations, one catholic and one protestant, using a qualitative case study design. The comparative assessment was based on three dimensions of support that appeared as a result of the data analysis, that we called spaces of information, formation, and motivation. The dimensions are considered as possible important research results and were used to investigate the impact on the traditional stages of the entrepreneurial process of the mechanisms made available by the two religious organizations. The analysis indicates certain similarities between the two cases: church membership assists in the creation of social capital that impacts various economic dimensions, as well as provides religious support to the economic motivations. However, the differences between the two churches become evident in the religious interpretation of economic success and in the articulation and closure of their social networks.

De manos dadas con Dios: organizaciones religiosas y apoyo al emprendedorismo

The article investigates mechanisms offered by religious organizations to support entrepreneurial initiatives. We examine two organizations, one catholic and one protestant, using a qualitative case study design. The comparative assessment was based on three dimensions of support that appeared as a result of the data analysis, that we called spaces of information, formation, and motivation. The dimensions are considered as possible important research results and were used to investigate the impact on the traditional stages of the entrepreneurial process of the mechanisms made available by the two religious organizations. The analysis indicates certain similarities between the two cases: church membership assists in the creation of social capital that impacts various economic dimensions, as well as provides religious support to the economic motivations. However, the differences between the two churches become evident in the religious interpretation of economic success and in the articulation and closure of their social networks.The article investigates mechanisms offered by religious organizations to support entrepreneurial initiatives. We examine two organizations, one catholic and one protestant, using a qualitative case study design. The comparative assessment was based on three dimensions of support that appeared as a result of the data analysis, that we called spaces of information, formation, and motivation. The dimensions are considered as possible important research results and were used to investigate the impact on the traditional stages of the entrepreneurial process of the mechanisms made available by the two religious organizations. The analysis indicates certain similarities between the two cases: church membership assists in the creation of social capital that impacts various economic dimensions, as well as provides religious support to the economic motivations. However, the differences between the two churches become evident in the religious interpretation of economic success and in the articulation and closure of their social networks.