Perspectives on entrepreneurial activities of UK based second-generation South Asians

The impact of ‘generations’ and the entrepreneurial process as a result thereof, is not acknowledged within the mixed embeddedness model. Moreover, while the mixed embeddedness model gives a more comprehensive explanation of immigrant entrepreneurship than previous models, it nonetheless fails to explain the wide-ranging inter and intra-ethnic differences in entrepreneurial activity. In an attempt to bridge these gaps within the model, this paper (which is part of a wider study) follows an emerging line of enquiry, whereby it is suggested that theories of ethnic entrepreneurship must explain diverse, uneven and changing patterns of entrepreneurship, such as those evident in Australia. For that reason, therefore, investigation is needed into the changing group characteristics of different cohorts of ethnic entrepreneurs over time and how opportunity structures change in order to facilitate these cohorts. In essence, the focus of the paper is on key factors recognised within emergent theory as those being relevant to second-generation entrepreneurship. Such a perspective would of course aid the development our own understanding of second-generation South Asian economic activity in the UK