Immigrant entrepreneurs in the city: collaboration, competition, and survival in São Paulo
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This dissertation explores immigrant entrepreneurship in the garment industry
of São Paulo, Brazil. While few know, Brazil is the fourth largest producer of
garments. Most of the production is directed at local consumption, through mostly
small and medium size retailing stores and producers. I research two communities in
particular: Bolivians and Koreans. Entrepreneurs from both communities form the
backbone of the industry, yet their activity has recently come under governmental
scrutiny. Because of cases of slave-like labor involving undocumented Bolivian
workers, the government has started enforcing labor laws and conducting workshop
inspections. The impacts of those inspections on the targeted immigrant groups have
seldom been researched. In fact, very little has been written about Koreans and Korean
entrepreneurs in Brazil. This dissertation seeks to answer the following research
questions: How do immigrant entrepreneurs in this industry perceive and adapt to a
situation where they are accused of abuses by a very bureaucratic state? What factors
influence their perceptions? ☐ To answer those research questions, I conducted qualitative research in São
Paulo from March to July 2013. I collected information from observation and 50
interviews involving 52 entrepreneurs, community organizers, and government agents.
To guide my research and analysis, I used a Global Production Network, adding works
on social and political capital. Further, a feminist ethic guided my data collection and
the overall writing of the dissertation. ☐ Among the main findings, I argue that there are factors beyond financial
interest that explain how the Korean and Bolivian communities react to accusations of
abuse and heightened control. Those factors are related to the production network,
social and political capital. In particular, Koreans lack political capital despite their
earlier arrival in the country. In contrast, Bolivians have access to a network of
immigrant associations drawing largely from leftist inspirations. This dissertation also
establishes that labor law enforcement is not improving conditions of work because
both communities find other ways to get around them. Finally, I argue that both
communities do not perceive that the government is trying to improve the situation per
se, but rather fight abuse as one visible aspect, without consideration for either
communities’ wishes or needs. The government’s actions stem from deeply held
beliefs and a history of controlling immigration to Brazil. Abuse is perpetuated while
the government dismisses the ambitions and agency of vulnerable sectors of the
population.