2000/2001 PCERII Funded Research Abstract

This proposed research project examines Chinese immigrant enterprise in Calgary in terms of their ethnic strategies and transnationalism. This will be accomplished by conducting a large sample survey of Chinese small and medium size enterprises in Calgary and by conducting in-depth case study research on 10 selected transnational enterprises.

At the theoretical level, the Interactive Model of Ethnic Business Development will be applied in the survey research. This model established the interaction of opportunity structures and ethnic group characteristics in the development of ethnic strategies amongst ethnic entrepreneurs. The following are the key research questions:

• What are the predisposing factors and the resource mobilization strategies which are used by Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs and how are these translated into ethnic strategies?
• What are the market conditions and opportunities for access to ownership of enterprises and how are these factors related to ethnic strategies?
• How have ethnic strategies emerged from entrepreneurs’ adaptations to structural conditions and utilization of ethnic group characteristics?

For the case studies, recent theories of transnationalism and social networks will be applied in order to assess transnational practices, networks (business, family, and social) and transmigration.

This proposed study has relevance to the Economic Domain of the Prairie Centre of Excellence in that it proposes to examine immigrants at the city level and in the prairie region. It also has relevance for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in that business immigration is a significant aspect of Canadian immigration policy.

Consultations with CIC has resulted in an identification of 3 research questions that this proposed study would touch upon. As a consequence the findings may have policy implications for Citizenship and Immigration Canada and perhaps for Alberta Economic Development.