Assisting minority micro-entrepreneurship : evaluation of a proposed model for Brazilians in Massachusetts

Abstract

Assessment of an economic development plan, based on entrepreneurship assistance, for a newcomer ethnic group in Massachusetts, U.S. Approached as a consulting project, recommendations for improvement are offered at the end. After a survey of current literature on entrepreneurship, a summary and analysis of factors relevant to self-employment motivation and success of immigrant ethnic minorities is presented. Data on the characteristics of Brazilians in Massachusetts is analyzed and related to the above findings, and the proposed plan by the Brazilian Business Network (BBN) is then critiqued. BBN was found to have many strengths, and the basis for its plan was sound, but the plan itself needed substantial development. The final recommendations include: further specific research on the target population to confirm this paper's preliminary findings, expansion of several underdeveloped aspects of BBN's plan, and the utilization of "ethnic business techniques" developed by older immigrant groups, and of recent methods devised by Brazilian newcomers and proven useful in defeating their multiple barriers to enter business.