Jonathan Bowles’ article, entitled “Immigrant Entrepreneurship: An Engine for Economic Recovery,” gives a good introduction as to both the pros and cons regarding immigrant entrepreneurship. Bowles’ article could arguably be a bit biased since it was published so soon after the economic downturn that took place in 2008, but regardless, many points are still valid. He notes that immigrant businesses over the past ten to twenty years have become “a powerful engine of economic growth,” immigrants being 30% more likely to start their own business. Immigrant-founded businesses have superseded the stereotypical food establishments or bodegas and have delved into health care or Silicon Valley-esque technology firms. This is evidence that immigrants are very much capable of “making it” in today’s economy.

However, the struggle lies in the lack of a support system. Being recent immigrants, these business owners often know little of American business practices, have a credit history, or know the right sources to go to for financial advice, and these factors are what lead to the failure of the business. Bowles makes an extremely valid point that the success stories needed little support in their start-ups, so if perhaps, the bureaucracy could dedicate just some attention to the needs of these recent immigrants, an economy that claims to be built off small businesses can be restored to its former glory.

Bearing in mind Bowles’ analysis, Chapter 4 of Min’s book, “Korean Immigrants’ Economic Segregation,” describes a textbook example of the economic advantages of an immigrant enclave. Min breaks down the businesses of Koreatown, documenting importers and wholesalers, professional firms, as well as more everyday businesses such as food markets and nail salons. He articulates that Koreans have the highest rate of starting a business amongst other minorities, often times because that is their intention in coming to this country and they have properly prepared themselves via language classes and vocational school. A notable observation of Min’s notes the Korean business owners’ tendency to cater towards African-American communities. Though they are by no means more concentrated in these neighborhoods, their clientele often is. Min argues that perhaps in gearing business practices towards this group, Korean businesses aren’t actually catering to African-American customers, but rather to lower-income ones.

This can then be directly linked to Kim’s study “Beyond co-ethnic solidarity: Mexican and Ecuadorian employment in Korean-owned businesses in New York City.” Kim outlines how Korean businesses are increasingly abandoning the practice of co-ethnic employment in favor of hiring lower-wage seeking Latinos. Of course there are multiple factors for this shift: a decrease in Korean immigration, the high benefit costs of Korean employees, etc., but it could be argued that the Korean business practiced geared towards lower-income customers could thereby be extended to employees, and thus such a shift occurs.