The Growth of Ethnic Organizations in the Context of Neighborhood Change: Organizational Ecology in Postwar San Francisco

Abstract

Which neighborhood conditions foster the growth of ethnic organizations? This paper explores how changing unemployment, homeownership, and immigration in neighborhoods shape the growth of ethnic organizations in San Francisco from 1940 to 1970. Using hierarchical linear modeling, this paper analyzes the growth of white ethnic and racial minority organizations as postwar neighborhood changes took form. Results indicate that white ethnic and racial minority organizations experience very different growth trajectories. Findings indicate that the growth of racial minority organizations was negatively affected as foreign–born population size grew and unemployment rose. White ethnic organizations, however, were impervious to these same neighborhood changes. These results suggest that social heterogeneity and economic uncertainty stall the growth of racial minority organizations, whereas white ethnic organizations are unaffected by these conditions.