| Abstract: | This sociological analysis contends that minority business is foremost a group-level phenomenon and is highly dependent upon social group resources for its development. This approach has its origins in the fact that other interpretations of minority business do not adequately account for the large proportional differences of owners across ethnic/racial groups. Census data on specific groups are examined to demonstrate those differences, both in regard to business participation rates and self-employment income. To help explain the differences, major functions performed by self-help networks supporting minority business are reviewed from the sociological research literature. The final section contains several policy implications. |
