Economic Inequality and the Choice of Self-Employment among Americans of Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian Ethnic Descent

J. W. Wright

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DOI: 10.2190/RXG0-YEK7-UW5N-NLJX

Abstract

Self-employment dependency varies drastically between national origin groups living in the United States. Prejudicial feelings against some nations of origin make it more difficult for some immigrants or ethnics to bypass employment hierarchies that force them out of the traditional occupational structure; religion can also form strong barriers to employment. The result is that groups who face high levels of discrimination choose to form their own businesses at inordinately high rates. It is also true that within ethnic economic enclaves socially unpopular subgroups are placed at an economic disadvantage. This situation makes the rate of self-employment a key indicator of ethnic economic discrimination. This article investigates the role of social distance in promoting self-employment among Americans with Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian ethnicity or national backgrounds.

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