This study investigates the roles of optimism and overconfidence in shaping investment outcomes among ethnic entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on the mediating function of financial literacy. Drawing on behavioral entrepreneurship and financial capability literature, we examine how these cognitive traits influence entrepreneurial decision-making and performance in contexts characterized by limited access to formal financial resources and institutional support. Data were collected through a survey of 183 ethnic entrepreneurs in Quebec, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test both direct and indirect relationships among optimism, overconfidence, financial literacy, and investment outcomes. The findings reveal that excessive optimism negatively affects investment outcomes both directly and indirectly through financial literacy, while overconfidence operates primarily through a mediated pathway. Financial literacy emerges as a critical mechanism enabling entrepreneurs to translate psychological traits into effective financial decisions, mitigating the potential adverse effects of cognitive biases. These results underscore the importance of integrating behavioral and capability-based perspectives in ethnic entrepreneurship research and suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing financial literacy can foster more informed, resilient, and successful entrepreneurial outcomes.

ABSTRACT Crowdfunding offers a promising avenue to democratize finance, yet persistent biases continue to constrain minority entrepreneurs. This study examines ethnic women entrepreneurs, a group considered underdogs because overlapping gender and ethnic disadvantages create distinct legitimacy deficits in fundraising. Using a novel dataset of 18,123 U.S. Kickstarter campaigns, we analyze how underdog status shapes the effectiveness of internal signals (e.g., education, campaign commitment) and external signals (e.g., Staff Pick endorsements). We address selection bias with a Heckman two-stage procedure and entropy balancing. Results show ethnic women entrepreneurs face disadvantages in attracting local backers, while external signals strongly enhance credibility and fundraising outcomes. Internal signals are more effective with foreign backers, highlighting that the value of signals depends on both entrepreneur identity and backer audience. Signaling thus functions as both an economic and symbolic tool, enabling underdogs to challenge stereotypes and reclaim legitimacy. Ethnic women entrepreneurs can strategically leverage transnational networks to overcome local disadvantages. By integrating insights from signaling theory, underdog strategy, and ethnic entrepreneurship, this study advances understanding of how marginalized entrepreneurs navigate structural barriers in digital finance and offers guidance for more inclusive crowdfunding models.

Designed to manage its profound diversity, Ethiopia's 1991 shift to ethno-linguistic federalism has inadvertently created critical 'federal fault lines' that now place the nation at a crossroads of unity and fragmentation. While ostensibly intended to safeguard group rights, the federal system has paradoxically engendered a myriad of deep-rooted systemic complexities. This study rigorously examines how this governance paradigm has impacted national cohesion. Through a multi-regional qualitative inquiry, utilizing extensive interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data, the research demonstrates that the federal system has exacerbated rather than ameliorated ethno-nationalist tendencies. Findings reveal persistent challenges rooted in the complex articulation of ethnic identity with territorial claims, the opportunism of ethnic entrepreneurs, and deep-seated political allegiances that undermine broader national integration. Consequently, absence of effective rule of law, ethnic parochialism, local tyranny, escalating inter-group conflicts, breaches of rights and freedoms, kidnappings, identity-based violence, internal mass displacements, administrative boundary disputes, and socio-economic impediments are now critically threatening the Ethiopian nation-state. Key words: Ethno-linguistic federalism, national integration, ethno-nationalism, fragmentation, state fragility.

This article illustrates the thesis that in contemporary Russia, ethnopolitics at the regional level is perceived in its most simplified, vulgar form — that is, as a demonstration of a region’s ethnocultural diversity through various folklore festivals and support for ethnic organizations whose leaders’ primary concern is not only preserving the group’s cultural distinctiveness but also constructing / reconstructing ethnic communities. Moreover, with this understanding of ethnopolitics, it is ethnic entrepreneurs and ethnically oriented researchers who become the leading experts in the field of state national policy, although their interests are not related to solving the problems of cultural and political integration of Russian society and strengthening a pan-Russian civic identity, but rather to the preservation and reconstruction of local ethnic identities and the demonstration of cultural distances between ethnic groups. The article demonstrates that it is identity politics that opens a broad arena for the activities of ethnic entrepreneurs who exploit the primordialist ideas of the masses about the universality and ascrip tivity of ethnicity, and the deep roots of ethnic differences in the past to achieve their goals.

This article examines the contemporary project of the "ethnic revival" of the Ainu in Kamchatka. The study aims to critically analyse the socio-political mechanisms underpinning this movement, the objectives of its leader, A.V. Nakamura, and the ultimate reasons for its failure to achieve official recognition of the Ainu as an indigenous minority people of the Russian Federation. Methodologically, the research employs a case study approach, drawing on historical analysis, critical examination of census data and media sources, and the author’s field materials. This allows for the application of a constructivist lens to deconstruct the phenomenon. The central finding is that the campaign led by Nakamura does not constitute a genuine ethnic revival but rather represents an ethno-constructivist simulacrum. This simulacrum is a phantom community, legitimised through statistical data and media discourse despite the absence of a substantiated, collective Ainu identity among its purported members. The study concludes that the primary driver of this project is the ongoing ethnicization of natural resource management, wherein ethnicity is instrumentalised as a legal gateway to access fishing quotas and other economic benefits. The practical significance of the work lies in its demonstration of the pitfalls associated with the primordialist perception of ethnicity in Russian policy and legislation, which creates incentives for strategic ethnic entrepreneurship and simulacra, thereby complicating genuine indigenous rights protection.

This article examines how Dua.com, a dating platform founded by a Kosovo-Albanian raised in Switzerland, aims to reshape matchmaking across borders. Launched in 2020, the app explicitly markets intra-ethnic marriage, branding itself as both a tool of love and a guardian of Albanian culture. Drawing on an analysis of the platform’s self-presentation and situating this within anthropological debates on ethnicity, kinship, and transnationalism, the article shows how the app presents itself as both a co-producer of Albanian ethnic identity and a transformer of family practices. By algorithmically taking over roles once performed by kin or community matchmakers, Dua.com aims at preserving ethnic endogamy and family values while simultaneously individualizing partner choice. Features such as “Fly” and “Spotted” compress geographic distance, enabling Albanian migrants to form relationships beyond seasonal returns or family mediation. The article argues that Dua.com exemplifies digital ethnic entrepreneurship, using technology to maintain ethnic boundaries while reconfiguring kinship practices, thereby reframing family-making in a digitally embedded transnational field.

This study addresses a critical gap in the literature: despite the pivotal role of Bumiputera SMEs in Malaysia’s economic inclusivity agenda, there is limited systematic understanding of how human-centric digital transformation can empower these enterprises. Prevailing digital initiatives often prioritize technology over people, overlooking the unique socio-cultural, human capital, and organizational challenges faced by Bumiputera entrepreneurs. To address this, the study aims to analyze the research landscape on human-centric digital transformation in Bumiputera SMEs by mapping key themes, identifying intellectual structures, and proposing future research directions. Using Scopus AI (as of 25 September 2025), the research employed an advanced bibliometric and semantic analysis based on a targeted search string encompassing Bumiputera identity, SMEs, digital transformation, human-centricity, and empowerment. The analysis generated a Summary, Expanded Summary, Concept Map, Topic Experts profile, and Emerging Themes. Findings reveal that while digital transformation frameworks, organizational agility, and even novel technologies like digital twins are gaining traction globally, research explicitly focused on Bumiputera SMEs remains virtually absent. Instead, empowerment is mediated by human capital particularly digital literacy, innovation culture, and leadership capabilities and enhanced through culturally resonant strategies such as narrative-driven digital storytelling. The study contributes a novel integrative framework that positions human agency at the core of digital transformation. Practically, it urges policymakers and support agencies to co-design context-sensitive interventions that blend digital upskilling with cultural identity, community engagement, and agile management practices. Theoretically, it bridges ethnic entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, and digital sociology. The paper concludes with a call for primary research, action-based pilots, and longitudinal studies to ground digital empowerment strategies in the lived realities of Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

ABSTRACT Rising global mobility for work, trade, and entrepreneurship has created a growing population of transient migrants, yet little is known about how they form attachments to host societies separated from their home countries. This paper addresses this gap by presenting findings from an ethnographic study conducted from 2012 to 2018 with 40 African migrants in Guangzhou, China. Using a multiscalar framework, it analyzes attachment at three spatial scales: urban enclave, suburban neighbourhoods and underground churches. Findings reveal that African migrants in Guangzhou experience disrupted residential attachments during spatial transitions and relocations from urban enclaves to suburban neighbourhoods, while reconstructed attachments emerge in sacred spaces within underground churches. State‐led relocations from downtown enclaves to peripheral suburbs generate spatial fragmentation, isolation, and a sense of rootlessness. Although urban enclaves continue to sustain economic livelihoods, ethnic entrepreneurship, and cultural familiarity, their role as residential hubs has weakened due to policy constraints. Suburban neighbourhoods provide housing but offer limited social interaction with local residents, resulting in weak attachments to these residential spaces. In contrast, underground churches serve as the most positive sites of attachment, offering emotional support, social resources, and a sense of belonging that bridges migrants’ post‐relocation experiences. This study contributes to place attachment literature by: (1) proposing a multi‐scalar perspective that reflects the fluid and dynamic nature of transient migration; (2) demonstrating how authoritarian urban governance disrupts traditional immigrant community functions while religious spaces offer alternative forms of solidarity; and (3) revealing how attachments can persist in marginal, less visible urban spaces despite regulatory pressures.

The article examines the concept of ethnicity by Rogers Brubaker. The cornerstone of his position is the denial of ethnic groups as real societal groups. Brubaker identifies with post-structuralist constructivism, which has nothing to do with the constructivism of Berger and Lukman, and does not take into account the views of British left-wing historians who influenced Anderson's concept of “imaginary communities.” He rejects the widespread sociological understanding of a social group as a collection of people who recognize the existence of their group and their belonging to it. Ignoring the work of social psychologists, he suggests abandoning the concept of “identity” and instead exploring the process of “groupness,” which includes elements of psychology along with other, mostly subjective, moments and random events. In Russia, Brubaker's theory has aroused objections from a number of philosophers who characterize it as a kind of cognitive-linguistic constructivism that brackets the question of the presence of objective content in human knowledge. Brubaker's groupness is associated with “ethnic entrepreneurs” who form the agenda for involving people with similar cultural characteristics (language, religion, etc.) in activities to achieve the goals in which these entrepreneurs are interested. Brubaker doesn't explain where these kinds of activists come from, or why ordinary people are willing to follow them. Finally, he does not take into account that ethnic groups, along with instrumental ones, have expressive functions that are involved in the processes of socialization and cultural reproduction.

ABSTRACT Despite limited power and capital, ethnic entrepreneurs can develop effective marketing strategies. This article examines the marketing approach of two silver craft entrepreneurs from the Iu Mien ethnic group in Thailand's Nan Province. By engaging in cultural activities, such as gifting silver craft products to members of the Thai monarchy, offering a free dual vocational education program at their factory, and positioning their factory as a heritage tourism site, the entrepreneurs of Doi Silver Factory have made their economic objectives less apparent. Moreover, these activities create symbolic value for their enterprise, framing it as an act of “preserving heritage for the nation.” Anyone involved is also positioned as part of this preservation effort. Moving beyond a strictly Marxist interpretation that views this marketing approach as an advanced form of wealth accumulation, we argue that this practice is also a subtle form of ethnopolitics, where the entrepreneurs assert their place as contributors to the safeguarding of cultural heritage in Thailand, in contrast to being stereotyped as threats to national security. Therefore this marketing approach is both economically and socially oriented. This research contributes to the study of marketing strategies in ethnic entrepreneurship. The study is based on fieldwork conducted from 2020 to 2024.

This paper explores the complex business histories of ethnic Koreans in Japan, a field that remains relatively understudied not only within the global academic arena but also within Japan itself. Ethnic Korean entrepreneurs have exhibited a higher rate of self-employment compared to other immigrant communities and Japanese nationals. The primary objective of this paper is to provide a historical context for the entrepreneurial ventures of ethnic Koreans, analyzing the industrial framework and the dynamics of their businesses. This study utilizes two directories, published by the Korean community, which offer insights into a rough business history derived from aggregated data. Additionally, the paper aims to supplement this information with interviews conducted with various companies. The observed transformation in the industrial structure represents an evolution in response to the rapid progression toward service industrialization. Korean entrepreneurs identified viable profit opportunities and facilitated entry into growing businesses through the sharing of community knowledge. These activities of ethnic Koreans have been conducted within the context of community functions, which were intertwined with roles in information dissemination and resource utilization. Upon establishing their businesses, interaction with Japanese clientele during daily operations became crucial for Korean proprietors. These enterprises operated within specific geographic locales, necessitating the provision of services tailored to the unique demands arising from regional characteristics. While the analysis primarily focuses on select industries, it endeavors to uncover compelling narratives that extend beyond the typologies highlighted by previous studies on ethnic entrepreneurs in Japan.

This paper examines ethnic entrepreneurship in the real estate and finance sectors, focusing on the dynamics of social capital and the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face in these industries. It addresses two main questions: What are the barriers and drivers for ethnic entrepreneurs in real estate and finance, and how does social capital impact their success? Drawing from a multidisciplinary literature review, this study offers insights into the role of networks, institutional barriers, and cross-cultural business strategies. The findings provide practical implications for business leaders, policymakers, and researchers aiming to foster inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation in key economic sectors.

While the Indian diaspora has historical roots in Europe stemming from its colonial legacy of the Commonwealth,the contemporary research has focused on its impact in the United States, both in economic and increasinglypolitical terms. Yet, Indian diaspora is of theoretical and practical interest to the European Union (EU) due to itsmultiple roles in contributing to the economy of the “old continent.” There is limited knowledge about these complexand multilayered roles and impacts of diasporas as economic actors since most research takes a specificdisciplinary focus, for example, ethnic entrepreneurship, rather than an interdisciplinary view. This paper contributesby reviewing extant research and advancing the discussion across disciplines. It assesses the major elementsof relevance for future research by examining and discussing the evolving communities, characteristics,locations, businesses as well as the key roles and impacts of the Indian diaspora in the EU. It shows that Indiarepresents a key sending country of skilled labor to the EU; its diaspora demonstrates significant investments,entrepreneurship and business establishments while contributing to increasing trade relations.

PurposeThis paper examines the dynamics of ethnic entrepreneurship among representatives of the Brazilian New Black Diaspora (BNBD). It aims to understand how these entrepreneurs start their businesses and how they mobilize them as a form of political participation.Design/methodology/approachThe research made use of a qualitative approach, using netnography, life narratives and comprehensive interviews with BNBD entrepreneurs and civil society actors.FindingsThe results reveal that BNBD entrepreneurs are often driven into necessity-based entrepreneurship due to exclusion from the formal labor market and use their businesses to address racism and xenophobia in the public arenas. While ethnic solidarity is typically emphasized in previous studies on the phenomenon of ethnic entrepreneurship, the findings uncover tensions within co-ethnic networks.Research limitations/implicationsThe research challenges the idea of ethnic solidarity as a fundamental condition for business success in ethnic entrepreneurship as well as the romanticized view of entrepreneurship as a panacea for economic problems, particularly in the context of migration.Social implicationsAlthough BNBD entrepreneurs face harsh realities, their ventures become important platforms for political advocacy, acting as vehicles that empower them to engage in the public arenas to influence public policies on migration and racial equality.Originality/valueThe study provides a new perspective on ethnic entrepreneurship through the lens of the sociology of public problems, emphasizing the social and political roles entrepreneurs play in addressing racism and xenophobia and highlighting competition over cooperation within their ethnic networks.

This study investigates the pivotal role of niche accounting firms in facilitating the economic integration and upward mobility of Brazilian immigrants in the United States. Through a qualitative case study approach, the article explores how culturally aligned accounting professionals bridge regulatory, linguistic, and informational gaps faced by immigrant entrepreneurs. Drawing on theories of ethnic entrepreneurship, service differentiation, and digital transformation, the research identifies how bilingual and bicultural accounting services enhance business formalization and financial inclusion. The findings demonstrate that these firms serve not only as technical advisors but also as socio-cultural mediators, contributing to inclusive economic growth in immigrant communities. Policy recommendations include formal recognition of bilingual competencies and enhanced support for immigrant-serving professional firms.

This study explores the heterogeneous patterns of technological adaptation among ethnic minority entrepreneurs in Northern Vietnam. Using survey data from 230 ethnic businesses across four provinces, we adopt a bagged clustering algorithm to classify entrepreneurs into distinct groups based on their digital literacy, technology use, and attitudes toward digital transformation. The analysis reveals three clusters: (1) Digitally skilled but cautious users, who possess digital competence but underutilize technology in business operations; (2) Low digital engagement, characterized by limited skills and minimal digital integration; and (3) Tech-driven practitioners, who actively use digital tools despite lower formal education. Our findings thus highlight the need for cluster-specific policies that recognize the diversity among ethnic entrepreneurs, recommending tailored support such as digital literacy training for low-engagement groups, business application coaching for digitally skilled but cautious users, and scale-up assistance for tech-driven practitioners.

Drawing on ethnic entrepreneurship theory and enclave economy theory, this study aims to investigate how restaurants’ internal and external factors—menu (high vs. moderate vs. low iconic ethnic dishes), ownership type (chain vs. independent), and location (ethnic vs. nonethnic enclave)—affect authenticity perception and purchase intention. This study further examines whether cultural motivation moderates the relationship between authenticity perception and purchase intention. Using a 3 × 2 × 2 experimental design, data were collected from 446 Chinese ethnic diners. The results show that moderate-iconic Korean dishes offered by restaurants in ethnic enclaves and by chain restaurants are more effective in enhancing authenticity perceptions than their counterparts. Moreover, ethnic diners’ cultural motivations significantly moderate the relationship between perceived authenticity and purchase intention. The findings provide valuable insights for ethnic restaurateurs to enhance the authentic dining experience and contribute to the application of ethnic entrepreneurship theory and enclave economy theory within the hospitality context.

The relevance of studying attitudes towards ethnic entrepreneurship is due to its increasing role not only as an economic but also as a social phenomenon in the globalization process. Such a group as student youth has been chosen for the study, since one of its key characteristics is a low level of tolerance, which can be expressed in the lack of tolerant attitudes towards social groups, including ethnic groups. The migrant and national approaches to understanding ethnopreneurship have been distinguished, the classification of which depends on the actor or product orientation. The purpose of the study is to reveal students’ attitudes towards ethnic entrepreneurship and the factors influencing it. The study was based on the results of a survey of student youth aged 18–24 years old. The following factors have been analyzed – gender, age group, and course of study. Students’ attitudes towards ethnopreneurship have been studied through analyzing the following empirical indicators: understanding of the ethnic entrepreneurship essence, willingness to purchase and reasons for purchasing ethnic goods, and attitudes towards ethnic products. The presence of blurring of the boundaries of the ethnic entrepreneurship concept has been established. Students have a high level of interest in authentic products of ethnopreneurship. The results of the conducted research on the attitude of student youth to ethnopreneurship can be useful for marketing strategies and can also contribute to building constructive intercultural communication.

The ethnopolitical conflict in Kosovo is one of the crucial challenges of regional security in contemporary Europe. The article presents a qualitative analysis of the dynamics of this conflict in the period 1990-2020, focusing on its parties' strategies. Based on the theory of rational choice, the authors underline the strong linkage between the dynamics of the ethnopolitical conflict (in terms of escalation/de-escalation) and the configuration of the strategies chosen by the parties of the conflict. It is noted that the parties involved in the conflict, acting as "ethnic entrepreneurs", choose between two key strategies: the value rationality strategy (the articulation of the collective goals of an ethnic group to achieve using arguments of ethnic solidarity, history, and tradition) and the instrumental rationality strategy (the pragmatic consolidation of the existing institutional status quo using arguments of forced cooperation, resources, economic and social security of the group). The authors find that the conflict dynamics are determined by the configuration of such strategies. If both parties use the instrumental rationality strategy in a coordinated manner, the possibilities of conflict de-escalation increase; if the parties use conflicting strategies (value rationality strategy versus instrumental rationality strategy) or if the value rationality strategies clash, the opposite effects are observed.

This study investigates the relationship between cultural identity, community support, and entrepreneurial dynamics among ethnic entrepreneurs in Nepal. The study population consists of diverse ethnic communities from Koshi Province, Nepal. The data was collected from four districts of Koshi province, viz. Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa. The research examines how traditional cultural heritage influences business opportunities while creating unique ethnic entrepreneurial challenges. The study uses a cross-sectional design. Primary data was collected from 110 ethnic entrepreneurs using a structured questionnaire, which was read to the ethnic entrepreneurs (for better comprehension), who were engaged in different businesses. The key findings revealed that cultural legacy serves as both a foundation for business creation and a potential constraint on market expansion. On the one hand, strong community networks provide essential support and resources; on the other hand, they may also limit access to broader economic opportunities. Notably, the research uncovers a paradoxical relationship where increased economic potential corresponds with heightened entrepreneurial challenges, suggesting that growth aspirations often encounter systemic barriers in mainstream markets.