Dieu Hack-polay

Learning from failure: A study of failed enterprises of self-employed African migrants in the UK

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the high failure among African entrepreneurs post-2008 financial crisis. It evaluates the evidence of actual and perceived disadvantage and endogenous and exogenous factors affecting black and minority ethnic businesses. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on an interpretivist frame which uses a dialogic methodology. It uses in-depth interviews. The researchers framed discussion questions so as to invite the participants to articulate directly their experiences for the benefit of the readership, other existing African businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Findings The findings from the interviews with 20 leaders of “dead” businesses indicate the impact that place, people and poverty have on business failure and identify reasons for African business failure rates compared to other minorities. This study reveals that culture, an often understated variable, is critical in understanding the deeper reasons for the under-performance of African small entrepreneurs and its impacts on individual and collective lives. Practical implications Recovery solutions ought to be formulated from participants’ call for diversification, inter-cultural learning and integration as potential remedies. The research addresses the socio-economic problems encountered by owners of “dead” businesses. Policymakers and financial organisations ought to pay heed to the skills and resources that minorities offer as part of remedies for future enterprises. Originality/value Studies on failed African businesses are under-represented in the literature. This study identifies the important role of culture on the failure of small businesses owned by African migrants in the UK. It highlights the significant socio-economic and situational barriers that they navigate in quest for recognition and cultural integration through business endeavours.

Introduction: Overview of the Book

This chapter sets the context of diaspora direct investment (DDI) and establishes a preliminary identification of the actors. It provides a definition of the concepts of DDI and remittances as well as an overview of the African political economy within which the DDI takes place. The chapter poses the questions that are answered in the book, i.e. the question about the socio-economic and cultural rationale for DDI and its possible development impact. This introductory chapter also situates the main perspective of the book and summarises the remaining chapters in terms of their broad coverage and the linkage between them.

Compassionate Investment?—Diaspora Contribution to Poverty Alleviation in Francophone West Africa

This chapter examines the input of the Francophone African diaspora in development effort in the region. The example of Cote d’Ivoire is particularly highlighted because it is the largest economy in Francophone West Africa and a dominant economy in the Francophone world in Africa. It examines the construction of the remittances sent to the region and the direct investment by members of the diaspora in the home country. A critical line of argument is that the funds that feed remittances and diaspora direct investment are hard earned at the cost of the diaspora’s work-life balance. Many diaspora investors had to take multiple jobs, often low paid, to fund ventures in the country of origin (COO). However, much of the investment, whether in remittances or direct venture creation, is made with limited expectations of financial return on investment, but psychological return, hence the concept of compassionate investment introduced in this chapter.

Conclusion: Reflecting on African diaspora direct investment

This chapter draws the main coverage of the book together. It brings to light the economic and social opportunities created through diaspora direct investment. The use of social capital and networks by the diaspora create fresh opportunities for African development whose traditional reliance on aid is now being questioned. This chapter recoups the ideas put forward by the various contributors that diaspora direct investment is altruistic and goes beyond the pursuit of economic gain to exemplify deep psychological and cultural attachment to the home land.

And labor came to us: making use of an opportune workforce - enhancing migrant integration into British economy

This article considers the opportunities presented by the availability of migrant labor in the U.K. employment market and its utilization. The research found that despite their qualifications, migrant labor is underutilized, thereby resulting in a readily available workforce being shunned and excluded from participative integration. This raises economic and ethical questions whose exploration revealed structural barriers (individually, communally, and institutionally) that impeded migrants’ fulfillment of citizenship obligations to host communities and U.K. businesses. The article’s key contribution is to highlight a skills mismatch and the persistent absence of institutional, communal, and strategic frameworks to support migrants’ integration.