Asian American immigrants and Small Scale Businesses Immigration is a controversial all over the world. There are many benefits and drawbacks associated with immigration. In 1980’s and 1990’s, America witnessed tremendous growth of small scale industries, mainly because of the contributions of the Asian immigrants. Many sociologists argue that one of the most important characteristics of Asian American immigrants is the high rate of small business participation. “The number of minority-owned businesses rose from less than 750,000 in 1982 to more than 1.
2 million in 1987, nearly one-tenth of all of the nation's businesses” (Minority Owned Business). However, the growth of small scale industries caused some problems also to the Americans. This paper tries to answer the questions; why do so many Asian immigrants open small businesses and what are the social advantages and social costs of this type of economic activities among Asian Americans. Most of the Asians immigrating to America do not have the necessary educational qualifications to obtain white collar jobs in America.
Even educated immigrants may not get a white collar job in America without proper American education. America has certain standards and norms for getting certain jobs and the immigrants need to meet all those norms before applying for professional works. For example, a nurse immigrating to America, need to pass some difficult tests before applying for a nursing profession in America. On the other hand, starting a business is an easy task in America than getting a white collar job. Thus, many of the Asian Americans started to establish small scale business units in America.
Asians are more interested in starting their own business than the Americans which is another reasons for the growing number of small scale businesses in America by Asian immigrants. The formalities for starting a business in America are easy compared to other nations, which is another motivating factor for Asians to select America as their destination to start their businesses. “Most observers agree, however, that minority entrepreneurs still face challenges that their white male counterparts are able to avoid.
Racism remains a sad reality in some communities, industries, and corporate environments” (Minority Owned Business). Even though America is a secular democratic republic in which racism prohibited by law, still the waves of racism can be witnessed in many ways in American society. It is indigestible for many of the Americans to accept the fact that their resources were better utilized by the Asian immigrants for making money. “Two of the most common perceptions about Asian-American small business owners are that their success is tied to the use of social resources and that there is crowding in traditional fields such as small-scale retail because these ventures are profitable” (Long, p.1). Most of the Asian immigrants, doing business in America are sending their savings to their home country which is not good for America’s economic growth.
In short, Americans watch the growth of small scale industries owned by Asian Americans with suspicious eyes which is creating lot of social problems in America. Immigrants were able to lead a normal life even amidst the current economic crisis scenario while the local Americans struggled. To conclude, Asian Americans establish small businesses in America because of the easy formalities in establishing businesses in America and the difficulties in getting white collar jobs in America. Americans watch the growth of Asian American small business with suspicious eyes because of their perception that immigrants are looting the wealth and resources of America.
Works Cited 1. Long, Jennifer. “Race, Self-employment and Upward Mobility: An Illusive American Dream”. 1999. Journal of Economic Issues, Sept, 1999. Web. 19 March 2011. 2. “Minority Owned Business”. Web. 19 March 2011.
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