Abstract
Throughout the world development agencies and governments promote micro-enterprise development as a solution to the employment crisis and penury of the global south. But what brought about the unprecedented expansion and worldwide promotion of micro-enterprise development? As a case study on micro-enterprise expansion in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, this paper offers a grounded theory analysis based on semi-structured interviews with national and international officials active in micro-enterprise development. Themes drawn from the interviews demonstrate that the failure of past development policies and the neo-liberal response to these failures help explain why micro-enterprise development expanded vastly in Trinidad and Tobago. Theoretically, I draw from Luxembourgs (1951) and Nashs (1990) studies on subsistence or petty production under capitalism and the world-systems analysis of households (Wallerstein and Scott 1992a; 1992b) to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the expansion of micro-enterprise development under neo-liberalism globally. In this era, micro-enterprise development reflects two separate strategies of dealing with economic crisesinformal or unwaged work and government transfer or social safety netsmerged into one.
Highlights
Throughout the globe development agencies promote micro-enterprises as an ideal solution to the employment crisis and penury of the global south (Isserles 2003; Itzigohn 2000; Johnson and Kidder 1999; Mosley and Hulme 1998; Dignard and Havet 1995; Grosh and Somolekae 1996; Rakowski 1994)
Despite the rapid expansion of micro-enterprise programs there has been limited sociological investigation as to why micro-enterprise programs have captivated a host of development actors including the United Nations, governments, banks, non-governmental organizations, corporations and transnational agencies
There is some recognition that the informal sector has mutated “from a problem of development into a solution for development” (Itzigsohn 2000; Poster and Salime 2000; Rakowski 1994; Tokman 1989), this paper provides an empirically grounded study of the phenomenon in Port of Spain, Trinidad and explains why micro enterprise development came to prominence in the mid-eighties2
Summary
Throughout the globe development agencies promote micro-enterprises as an ideal solution to the employment crisis and penury of the global south (Isserles 2003; Itzigohn 2000; Johnson and Kidder 1999; Mosley and Hulme 1998; Dignard and Havet 1995; Grosh and Somolekae 1996; Rakowski 1994). One of the economic leaders in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago promotes itself as “a nation of entrepreneurs” and relies on the advancement of micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses to overcome the nation’s problems with poverty and unemployment (International Labour Organization 1995, Ministry of Development 1996).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
