Ethnic Enterprise and Commodifying Ethnicity: Entrepreneurship, Generational Change and Indian-Owned SMEs in Malaysia
Author Name
Edmund Terence Gomez
Author Address
Faculty of Economics and Administration, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
E.mail: Edmund Gomez
Keywords
ndians, generational change, ethnic enterprise, commodifying ethnicity, Malaysia
Abstract
This study grapples with two key puzzles: first, what happens when companies established as ethnic-based enterprises, including by migrants, are passed on to the second and third generation? Second, will this new generation of business owners continue to draw upon, or commodify, their ethnic identity to increase sales or create a niche for themselves in the economy? The empirical focus of this study is Malaysia, the country with one of the largest ethnic Indian populations outside of India. To provide insights into these questions, this study pays particular attention to how an ethnic enterprise functions, in terms of types of goods and services produced and its targeted market, after a new generation of owners with more class resources emerges. The evidence from this study will provide insights into the applicability of the concept of ethnic enterprise following a generational transition.
Conference
International Conference on "Global Migration: Rethinking Skills, Knowledge and Culture"