An interesting topic that Peter Kwong covers in the first few chapters is the work force of Chinese women and how they affected the growth of Chinatown. According to Kwon, the timing of the arrival of the Chinese women workforce came at a time exactly when they were needed. As a result, not only were the women able to support there family they were also able to re-stimulate the industry with their income. With this occurrence Kwong  believes the new work force allowed Chinatown’s economy to expand.

The economic aspect to this theory is interesting because I am currently studying the Depression and various economic issues that happened during the time period. We see during Hoover’s reign the “trickle down theory” does not really work. Or the idea that funding at the top will eventually reach the workers down below. Over all Hoover’s attempt at fixing the economy was dismal due to his inability of allowing “direct” Federal aid. (An example would be actually creating jobs for those at the bottom.) This part struck me because it shows or further proves that if those at the bottom are employed they can stimulate the economy. For some reason, this idea could not be accepted during the great depression until the Roosevelt administration, and even he had criticism. So according to Kwong’s ideas if Hoover directly provided jobs for the unemployed during the Depression, history may have been quite different.

Or perhaps this economic stimulation only works in a small scale way (as compared to that of a national economic depression.) Where the idea of a small ethnic cluster can stimulate their own economy through an employed work force. The model does seem more reliable on a small scale like many other economic plans. However, how natural this economic stimulation occurs shown through the idea that Chinatown also provides Chinese women with some comfort due to familiarity. For example, Kwong mentions how the managers were also Chinese and there was no language barrier.