Hoselitz Theory of Entrepreneurship
What is Hoselitz theory of entrepreneurship?
Burt F. Hoselitz was a professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Hoselitz argues that entrepreneurship tends to come from socially marginalized groups in a given society. This is very similar to the withdrawal of status respect theory and the misfit theory of entrepreneurship, which both deal with marginalized populations.Hoselitz (1963) assumes that entrepreneurship can only come out of
a developed cultural base. His theory is that marginalized populations must be considered
culturally developed in order to be considered eligible for entrepreneurship. He refers to entrepreneurship by marginalized groups as "pariah entrepreneurship".
Hoselitz claimed that his theory helps to explain to the highly entrepreneurial behaviors of Greeks and Jewish people in medieval Europe, Lebanese in West Africa, Chinese in Southeast Asia, and Indians in East Africa.
The concept of cultural development is ambiguous and potentially problematic for Hoselitz' theory. The level of development of a culture may not be objectively ascertained. However, the spirit of the argument is that the culture must be perceived to be developed from the subjective perspective of the dominant groups in a society.
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Hoselitz claimed that his theory helps to explain to the highly entrepreneurial behaviors of Greeks and Jewish people in medieval Europe, Lebanese in West Africa, Chinese in Southeast Asia, and Indians in East Africa.
The concept of cultural development is ambiguous and potentially problematic for Hoselitz' theory. The level of development of a culture may not be objectively ascertained. However, the spirit of the argument is that the culture must be perceived to be developed from the subjective perspective of the dominant groups in a society.
Hoselitz uses the term “marginal men” to mean those
individuals who are both from (1) a marginalized population and (2) a developed home culture. These marginal men have a strong desire to adjust their situation by engaging in entrepreneurial behaviors. Marginalization has a way of redirecting an individual’s learned culture
to new ends.
The theory implies that some marginal populations are not
legitimate enough to be eligible to be entrepreneurs from the perspective of
the dominant population groups. One might criticize the theory by pointing out that cultures can change and adapt in fits and spurts so that static expectations become less useful than dynamic interpretations of culture. In other words, theories like these may inadvertently contribute to stereotyping by generating self-confirming biases. It is at the very least, a controversial theory.
Perhaps a looser, but more inclusive version of the theory is that entrepreneurs that migrate may look to aspects of their home cultures that seems in some way more effective or more efficient than the ways of the host culture(s). This avoids the problem of labeling whole cultures as more or less developed, and puts the attention on the relevant routines. Routines that have evolved over many generations are likely to be better in some way on some dimensions that may not be fully appreciated by the mainstream host culture. Routines that developed under conditions of scarcity may also have efficiency advantages.
Sources:
Gambe, A. R. (2000). Overseas Chinese entrepreneurship and capitalist development in Southeast Asia (Vol. 9). LIT Verlag Münster.
Hoselitz, B. F. (1963). Entrepreneurship and traditional elites. Explorations in Economic History, 1(1), 36.
Gladwell discussed pariah:
Sources:
Gambe, A. R. (2000). Overseas Chinese entrepreneurship and capitalist development in Southeast Asia (Vol. 9). LIT Verlag Münster.
Hoselitz, B. F. (1963). Entrepreneurship and traditional elites. Explorations in Economic History, 1(1), 36.
Gladwell discussed pariah:
