Justice for All Ages Essay -- Justice Philosophy Essays

Equity for All Ages The topic of â€Å"What is Justice?† tormented the antiquated logicians and keeps on plagueing the expert and novice scholarly thinkers of today. The inquiry is so difficult, in light of the fact that it is very hard to tell where to start. Socrates1 talked about equity corresponding to the divine beings, Plato comparable to an individual’s obligation in the public eye, and Achilles, in a to some degree backhanded way, according to respect and dedication. Every one of the three of these men had persuading contentions about the genuine idea of equity, however it is difficult to state now, or in all likelihood ever, regardless of whether any of them really took care of business. The current objective is to integrate their thoughts with those of Aristophanes, Euripides2, and even Richard Kraut, speaking to the cutting edge scholastic savant, with an end goal to additionally create and test the idea of equity. So as to move toward this overwhelming errand, it is significant which medium is picked through which to continue. Following in the strides of Plato and Socrates, it appears to be fitting to do use the discourse group. The discourse group comprises of a discussion wherein a conversation follows, questions are asked, theories are framed and tested, and ideally, at long last there is some more clear comprehension of the current issue. This exchange happens on the Isle of the Blessed where the now-immortals Achilles, Socrates, Aristophanes and Euripides live. Lasthenia3, a logician from old Greece, has carried Plato to the island and, normally a conversation starts. The conversation, as guaranteed, acquires the thoughts of equity from a wide range of perspectives and finishes with the unannounced passageway of Richard Kraut to include one more curve. Characters of the dia... ...versity Press, 1998. Euripides. Bacchae. Interpreted by Paul Woodruff. Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1998. Homer. The Iliad. Interpreted by Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Books, 1990. Kraut, Richard. The Defense of Justice in Plato’s Republic. Plato’s Republic: Critical Essays, altered by Richard Kraut. New York: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1997. Plato. Conciliatory sentiment of Socrates. Deciphered by Thomas G. West and Grace Starry West in Four Texts on Socrates. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998. Plato. Euthyphro. Interpreted by Thomas G. West and Grace Starry West in Four Texts on Socrates. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998. Plato. Republic. Interpreted by G.M.A. Grube, reconsidered by C.D.C. Reeve. Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1992. Vlastos, Gregory. Socratic Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.

The Impact of Employee Participation for Transparency Research Paper

The Impact of Employee Participation for Transparency - Research Paper Example The choice procedure should be moral, legitimate, reported, straightforward and ought to include the present or existing workers of the firm (Larson and Gray, 2006). The participatory methodology is likewise essential towards the execution of group working exercises. As indicated by eminent researchers, at whatever point an organization is considering getting another representative the association, their potential joint effort with the colleagues and fit in the framework is significant. Because of that when a representative itself is a piece of the enlistment procedure they become increasingly dedicated to causing the new joining worker to get familiar with the circumstance and prevail in their expert life. Henceforth, it is apparent that representative investment during the time spent worker enlistment is a useful factor for the firm (Love and Bullen, 2009). This examination paper will, in any case, focus on the recruiting and enlistment procedure of the open offices and to what deg ree investment of the workers would guarantee straightforwardness in the enrollment procedure. Outline of the writing Choosing and holding the significant and effective workers is a key to business achievement. Representatives who look for constant aptitude advancement, just as increase the value of the association, are the most essential assets of the association. In this manner, it is critical to esteem the workers just as put more endeavors in choosing the correct applicants. The important component of any enlistment plan is to upgrade the nature of staffing and building up the general efficiency of the association. ... g workers and recruiting the new representatives is a territory of business where the organization is required to keep up elevated levels of straightforwardness, clarity, and obligation. Despite the fact that, the equivalent is apparent in numerous organizations though a few organizations regularly bomb in keep up straightforwardness in the enlistment procedure and are claimed of engaging in predispositions or misleading exercises. As indicated by Mumford (2011), one of the most helpful approaches to keep up straightforwardness in the enrollment procedure is to include the current workers in the enlistment procedure. A similar idea is relevant to the open offices also. Since the chief point of these associations is to make the government assistance of the overall population and benefit making aim are on the subsequent rundown, elevated levels of trustworthiness and veracity in the enrollment procedure are normal from them. Various research considers have demonstrated that the enlistm ent procedure of the associations varies in different viewpoints. For instance, a few organizations have extensive screening process while some have a remarkable assessment framework. By and by, what is significant is to keep up a more prominent degree of lucidity.â

Work Stress and Its Effects on Individuals

Work Stress and Its Effects on Individuals Acquaintance This paper points with talk about such wonder as work pressure and its consequences for people and associations. Generally speaking, there are various meanings of this issue; I might want to embrace the clarification gave by World Health Organization; it says that work pressure is an adverse passionate and physical reaction which is brought about by the way that an individual can't fulfill work needs, or believes that he/she can't adapt to his/her work obligations (WHO, as refered to in Drenth et al, 1998, p 397).Advertising We will compose a custom exposition test on Work Stress and Its Effects on Individuals explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More This condition is ordinarily joined by such manifestations as fractiousness, sadness, the sentiment of disappointment, wretchedness or even heart illnesses (NIOSH, 2010, unpaged). At times, work pressure can prompt hostility and viciousness toward others (associates, relatives, and even totally obscure individu als). Directors of driving organizations have since quite a while ago understood that this wonder is risky to the two representatives and organizations, and one of their needs is to evacuate the reasons for work pressure and additionally at any rate limit its delayed consequences. These are the most significant inquiries that we have to break down in this paper. The circumstances and end results of work pressure The variables, prompting work worry In request to wipe out upsetting circumstances in the work environment, one should initially look at their fundamental causes. Right now, the two researchers and directors agree that it is associated with the individual attributes of a worker, and with the administrative arrangements, set up inside the organization. One reason why individuals can experience the ill effects of work pressure is deficient degree of confidence (Resnick, 2004, p 15). For instance, an individual, who has a low degree of confidence, generally views any working en vironment issue as an indication of his/her unfitness and powerlessness to satisfy the employer’s desires. Typically, such individuals experience outrageous sentiment of uneasiness or wretchedness which may in the long run come full circle into a mental meltdown. There is likewise a converse side of this coin, and it is significant level of confidence. Generally speaking, these people accept that the senior administration is one-sided against them and condemns them shamefully. For them, any administrative analysis is an individual offense. Exorbitant hairsplitting is another character quality enormously adds to work pressure in light of the fact that an individual, who normally sets exclusive expectations for himself, is progressively powerless against working environment stress. Indeed such people for the most part devote an excess of time to some minor subtleties that are not pertinent to their prompt obligations, while their general efficiency stays at a similar level (Cor veleyn et al, 2005, p 116).Advertising Looking for paper on business financial matters? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Furthermore, when they don't get kudos for their hairsplitting, they start to feel that they are underestimated by the supervisors. When talking about individual wellsprings of work pressure, we ought to likewise specify poor relations with relatives and companions, medical issues, lack of sleep, etc. They don't straightforwardly trigger animosity, brutality or the sentiment of nervousness, however they increase the effect of any pressure circumstance. Be that as it may, the reason for work pressure ought to likewise be looked for in the authoritative and administrative arrangements of the association, itself. These authoritative components are as per the following: High turnover in the association that prompts the sentiment of occupation instability, which is boundless among individuals with low degree of co nfidence; Lack of acknowledgment and prize, as it were, the administration doesn't see or value the endeavors of the workers and their accomplishments; Continuous extra time that prompts weakness and misery; Inability to take an interest in dynamic; 5) intellectual over-burden or the need to consider various assignments simultaneously (Barling et al 2005). In this manner, this conversation demonstrates that the administration of distressing circumstance in the working environment requires joint cooperation of the executives and bosses. The impacts of work worry In the presentation we have just addressed physical and mental effects of work pressure, for example, over the top fractiousness, animosity towards collaborators and family members, the sentiment of discontent, sleep deprivation, or heart infections (NIOSH, 2010, unpaged). It ought to likewise be referenced that such an individual regularly estranges oneself from his partners whom he sees basically as adversaries or even foes (Barling et al, 2005). It ought to be borne as a primary concern that such distance can keep going for quite a while, and the real upheaval of outrage or animosity unexpectedly. Ordinarily, it is incited by some minor issue that can be immediately managed, for example, breaking down of office PC, road turned parking lot, or some minor censure of the senior administration. These aggravations can a significant impact on the worker, experiencing work pressure, however under ordinary conditions, they would mix practically no response. It makes sense that the profitability of these individuals decreases either regarding amount or in quality (Barling et al, 2005). One needs to tolerate as a main priority that their mentality toward work environment obligations contrasts essentially, for example, a few representatives attempt to adhere to managers’ guidelines precisely; be that as it may, they come up short on any activity. Indeed they are too hesitant to even consider taking any d uty because of the dread of losing one’s employment. Regularly, the representatives attempt to hurry through the work so as to finish every one of their assignments as fast as could be expected under the circumstances and accordingly, the nature of their work decays. The associations, wherein stress circumstance happen all the time, need to adapt to an extraordinary assortment of difficulties. One of them is poor collaboration as the representatives, who experience the ill effects of this pressure, are unwilling to help other people or partake in brainstorming.Advertising We will compose a custom paper test on Work Stress and Its Effects on Individuals explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another issue, looked by the administration of such associations is poor client care. Indeed people, experiencing work pressure, can be bothered by any objection of the client, even a little one. As we have brought up previously, these individuals are either terrified of as suming any liability because of the dread of losing one’s employment, or they can be careless to their obligations as a result of consistent exhaust. Both these mentalities are similarly hurtful for the working of client care. It would not be an embellishment to state that such organizations can't arrive at their key and momentary goals. In most of cases, their money related and operational execution fails to impress anyone. Once more, we need to pressure a thought that the arrangement of this issue requires a lot of exertion from the two workers and the executives. Methods of overseeing worry in the working environment At this point, we have to outline methodologies of overseeing working environment; from the outset we have to depict how the representatives ought to carry on so as to evade mental, enthusiastic and physical strain. It is of the essential significance that they keep up uplifting demeanor toward the administration and partners (Stranks, 2005, p 76). They ought not see them as their adversaries or somebody who intentionally harms to them; else they will invoke beasts out of nowhere. They should comprehend that a decent boss is keen on the maintenance of experienced laborers. This is the motivation behind why the workers ought not fear airing their feelings and objections to the ranking directors. In most of cases, a great official is continually ready to keep workers fulfilled, and he/she will consistently focus on their requirements. An individual, who feels a type of strain, ought to at any rate converse with the supervisor and there is incredible probability that his interests will be tended to. Sadly, numerous individuals abstain from doing it in exertion to look free, independent, and solid. Getting enough rest is additionally significant component of forestalling work pressure since lack of sleep brings about touchiness and consideration shortfall (Stranks, 2005, p 80). By and large, an individual ought to get in any event seven hour s of rest to be beneficial at the working environment. Aside from that, one ought not think little of the significance of keeping suitable eating routine. These proposals may have all the earmarks of being clichés yet an incredible number of individuals disregard them. So as to turn into a productive representative, who can viably defeat pressure circumstances, an individual should consistently save a specific measure of time for his/her own needs that are completely disconnected to the work environment duties.Advertising Searching for paper on business financial aspects? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More Indeed a person, who doesn't do that, typically feels just as work were the main reason for his reality, and this is surely discouraging. At last, one should reexamine one’s confidence and self-viability as in some cases individuals underestimate their abilities and capabilities and believe that they are performing inadequately. In any case, without dynamic help of the administration even the most adjusted and calm individual can arrive at the limit. In their turn, the administrators need to create suitable timetable and set sensible courses of events with the goal that the representatives didn't need to ceaselessly stay at work past 40 hours. Besides, they have to unmistakably characterize the obligations and duties of the subordinates. As it has been noted previously, psychological over-burden is one of the main sources of employment stress. An individual, who needs to consider an extraordinary number of things one after another, definitely feels passionate and mental strain . This is one of things, which

Project Management - planning, conduct, administering, and closing Essay

Undertaking Management - arranging, lead, regulating, and shutting gracefully chains [sap5] - Essay Example There are organizations that effectively oversee inner parts of their gracefully chain plan. In any case, outside issues make a more prominent issue, explicitly forâ small organizations (Kouvelis, Chambers and Wang, 2006). Little firms have littler system ofâ suppliers by building connections and expanding proficiency thus bringing down hazard. Customarily, certain enterprises experience higherâ supply chainâ risks. For example, pharmaceutical and food organizations have solid establishment and comprehension of technique for defending against gracefully chain issues and interferences. Compelling techniques on gracefully chain the executives improve parts of systematic tasks and client assistance. Implicit rules Responsibility for individuals and the earth influences flexibly chain tasks. The job of gracefully chain incorporates confirming consistence, setting expectations, and making long haul associations with providers (Tyndall, 2004). In addition, it needs to help endeavors fo r reasonable enhancements. Implicit rules frames the essentials of endeavors for improving workplace and working conditions for made items. The code involves requests relating ecological effects and human rights focusing on activities, providers and producers. The Code of direct necessities are gotten from the Rights of the Child and the UN Declaration on Human Rights. All makers and providers ought to confirm the Code of Conduct in order to be a piece of the gracefully chain. The duty of Suppliers is in guaranteeing that their own makers and providers hold fast to the Code (Kouvelis, Chambers and Wang, 2006). Producers and Suppliers who can't or won't sign the Code or satisfy authoritative requirements may not be permitted business. The Code prerequisites incorporate denial of youngster or constrained work, non segregation dependent on close to home qualities or convictions. Work environment wellbeing and security ought to be organized close by protected and right treatment of wast e and perilous substances. At last, the working conditions must be satisfactory. Controlling Supply Chain Administering flexibly chain requires execution of cost-to-serve investigation and ordinary interest. Basics of division depend on benefit of clients, items and request elements. This investigation gives the necessary data intended to tailor gracefully chain strategies and administration concessions intended to raise the general productivity of the portfolio. The adjustment in the elements of interest and productivity in the present rapidly changing business scene has systematized a standard rhythm. In the ongoing past, request has been viewed as a solitary necessity to responses of flexibly chain. Today, request signals exudes from estimates, requests, and wellbeing stock originating from various channels, for example, Web, retail, undertaking and wholesalers (Kouvelis, Chambers and Wang, 2006). Besides, request signals start from various client types where huge, exceptionally productively clients are contrasted with little, unrewarding clients. Additionally, various clients have distinctive satisfying connections relying upon the administration required, the client volume and productivity, and client care channels. One of the issues confronting gracefully chain supervisors is the elements of flexibly chain cost structures. There is a more noteworthy variance on fuel costs, work expenses, and money trade rates for ease nations. Gainful sourcing procedures will change to

Its 7 questions about political science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Its 7 inquiries regarding political theory - Essay Example Initially, strategies of the administration must mirror the desires that the individuals have. Different conditions express that pioneers in government must be chosen, and decisions should be free and reasonable. Fourth, individuals must participate in any political procedure. Fifth, the accessible data must be of high-caliber. At long last, the dominant part should run the show. Political fairness identifies with the idea that each individual conveys an equivalent load in casting a ballot just as other political dynamic. Greenberg et al. contend that this standard is significant in a perfect majority rule society since vote based system is a methods for settling on key choices. Political freedom is the third part of vote based system. It identifies with the key opportunities urgent to the articulation and development of the mainstream will just as its change into approach. The necessities of political freedom incorporate opportunities of religion and soul, of the press, of discourse, and of affiliation and get together. Greenberg at al. contend that the major standards of vote based system can't exist if the referenced freedoms need (12). In the â€Å"Democracy for the Few†, Dr. Parenti portrays how the general public is significantly partitioned into two segments; the regular workers and the possessing class. He proceeds to clarify the people under the possessing class, where he depicted them also to-do individuals and as a rule are well off and live in the benefits of their organizations. In this class, he perceived people who possesses enormous measure of investors from greater partnership just as the little scope and battling entrepreneurs. He looked at the little and the monster entrepreneurs as squirrels and elephants to empower him give a superior point of view of who can menace their routes in the market and society set up. Parenti additionally referenced common laborers, and he had the option to depict them as those people who had the option to live and rely upon pay rates, wages, and benefits. He

Lipstick Consumption Behaviourduringan Economic Recession - 2750 Words

Lipstick Consumption Behaviourduringan Economic Recession (Dissertation - Results Sample) Content: CHAPTER IV: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS4.1 IntroductionThis chapter presents an analysis and discussion of the findings obtained in this study. The findings have been organised around the main themes that emerged from the content data analysis process of the responses provided to the interview questions. The main themes relate to self-esteem, body transformation, attracting members of the opposite sex, ritual artefacts, place as well as self-confidence. Most of these themes are related, but they will be analysed separately in order to acquire an in-depth understanding of the respondentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ insights and experiences of using lipstick products in their day to day lives.4.2 Overview of the demographic characteristics of the participantsThe respondents in this study were 15 Caucasian women aged between 20 and 45 years. All the participants had some form of college education; 9 of the participants were undergraduate students at a local university in the UK, 4 were Maste rs Students or had completed their Masters, while the remaining two participants were doctoral students. Out of the 15 participants interviewed, 5 were working in various professions. All the undergraduate level participants claimed to be single.Table 1: Characteristics of participantsCode Sex Education Occupation Age Marital status TN01 Female Undergraduate Student 21 Single TN02 Female Undergraduate Student 22 Single TN03 Female Masters Clericalworker 31 Single TN04 Female Undergraduate Student 24 Single TN05 Female PhD Marketing manager 42 Divorced TN06 Female Undergraduate Sales and marketing 24 Single TN07 Female Undergraduate Student 26 Single TN08 Female PhD Human resource manager 39 Married TN09 Female Masters Personnel manager 34 Single TN10 Female Masters Nurse 41 Married TN11 Female Undergraduate Students 20 Single TN12 Female Undergraduate Sales and marketing 21 Single TN13 Female Undergraduate Student 26 Single TN14 Female Masters Student 29 Single TN15 Female Undergrad uate Student 21 Single 4.3 Thematic analysisThe findings in this research are organised around various themes from the responses provided by the participantà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s during the data collection process. Various quotes from different respondents have been quoted to illustrate the overarching themes.4.3.1 TransformationAccording to Mullen and Johnson (2013, p19), as consumers undergo life phase transition, the consumption changes to suite their test in their new life cycle. SimilarlySheth (2011, p15) noted that individuals divest their prior identity in preparation for the new identity. This state is referred as period of laminality, it describes a period where individual behaviours are unstable, ambiguous and unknown identity that occurs within the transition process. The taste and preferences of the consumer have been known to change with the transition process.This study identified that women used lipstick as an affordable and temporary mean through which women attempts to make n ew images along their life transition changes and observe the reaction of the society. Lipstick plays a similar role with plastic surgery for women with the exception that lipstick is temporal and cheap. Women test how society perceives them in their lipstick and decides to change the lipstick or stick to it.A few respondents said that lipstick is a good way of making them feel good, but theymainly prefer it from the fact that one can change it wherever they feel that it does not meet their intended purposes. This statement implies that lipstick is a critical tool in the process of liminality period in the process of transition. User of lipstick attempts to make a new image of the user in every life transition process. If the use of a specific lipstick achieves the newly desired image, then it is adopted by the consumer. If it does not bring out the desired shape, then the use of that specific lipstick is abandoned.Lipstick wearing also has influence on the way individualsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ mood fluctuates and the way their identity is revealed. For instance, one respondent confessed that lipstick application helps them to control their anger. The respondent said, "in case of any bad or hurting news, I usually go out and buy a lipstick" (TN05). On pursuing the respondent to clarify whether the purchased lipstick was just meant to calm the respondents down, the researcher sought to know whether the respondent would apply the lipstick after settling down. The respondent said, "Of course I will, because I would have already gotten over whatever had upset me, I have used this for a long time and I have made just one mistake when I purchased a lipstick with dark colour that I rarely useà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ .In support of this factor, beauty therapists argue that changing of lipstick colour by a regular lipstick user harbours a high level of risk. It requires an individual to have confidence in the ability of the new colour to bring out the expected results. For instance, weddin g preparations, parties are first planned with very careful consideration to ensure that the selected colours give the participants assurance that adopting the image produced by the colours used would meet the expected results.In a different studyDauga and Quinn (2010, p44) found that shift of consumer to a new ritual resulted in uncertainty and anxiety for consumers. This explains the reason why women feel uncomfortable and act reluctantly with regard to changing their routine of wearing lipstick. An interesting fact is that most women who wear lipstick have more than one collection of lipsticks that have earlier been applied just in case a need to change the identity presented by the applied one arises.Among the interesting findings made by this study was the use of lipstick as a rite of passage for women in some societies. This idea is,however,not new because Levy and Emer (2012, p 175) also made findings that some cosmetic products were used after adolescent stage. Rahman et al. (2010, p 203-206) further found that some parents allowed their children to use some products after their transition from adolescence to womanhood. The ability of a lipstick to be used as a mark for such an important life occasion is not only important to this study but require further research.A respondent questioned on this line responded that, "I rarely wear makeup and I cannot clearly remember the time I did make up because I have been brought up in an Italian culture" (TN10). TN014 stated "à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬. Makeup is not an important part of a womanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s beauty like lipstick application is, my mom allowed me to wear lipstick when I reached 19 years which had to match with my complexion. I remember my first time going to shopping wearing lipstick accompanied my mum and cousin felt like a confirmation to me that I was of age. The feeling was similar to that of circumcision to men.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Another respondent (TN12) claimed that lipstick is "a girl thingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ,not ing that her mother taught her from a young age that use of lipstick makes a woman look nice and tidy. This study found that the use and importance of lipstick are embedded within the culture and just like family, recipes and other traditional practices; use of lipstick and its importance is passed from one generation to another in certain societies through mother to daughter relationship.4.3.2 Mate preferencesSome of the responses provided by the participants indicate that they are more willing to make themselves attractive to males with resources during an economic recession. As discussed earlier in the literature review, cues to an economic recession can have a significant impact on the ferocity with which women compete for mates. Indeed, some of the responses provided indicated that the participants believed that there are fewer financially stable men following an economic recession.This argument is supported by the response provided by TN02, a university student who stated "à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ I care about how I look in front of menà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . TN06 had a similar view "à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬with lipstick applied on my lipsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ I can look at appealing men and overcome the economic recession challenges; lipstick can make you feel great and amazingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . Similarly, TN15, still an undergraduate student claimed "à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ I do care about how I lookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ you know, you are never sure of what tomorrow might have in store for you.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ However, upon analysing the data, the researcher noted that there were some anomalies. All the responses hinting a desire to attract members of the opposite sex were provided by participants aged less than 33 years, and this can be an indication that women aged more than 34 years have some different motivations for wearing lipstick products. In total, about 38% of the sample population (90% being undergraduate students) indicated that their core application as attracting the opposite sex.This finding correlates wi th the results presented by Hill et al. (2012) who found that a womanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s desire and efforts to attract financially stable malepartners increases during an economic recession. The participants in the Hill et a...

Financing ethnic minority businesses - Free Essay Example

Financing of ethnic minority firms focusing on Asian Perspective Background to the Study The significance of ethnic minority firms in the United Kingdom has witnessed a tremendous increase in recent times with ethnic minority communities now constituting a significant portion of the small business sector[1]. Reports from the Bank of England[2] confirm that 5% of the national population accounts for 9% of new business start-ups and 7% of the total business stock in the United Kingdom. This implies that ethnic minorities account for 91% of new business start-ups and 93% of total business stock in the United Kingdom. An interesting issue in the numbers is that most of the ethnic minorities are engaged in low-order retailing and services as well as other unprofitable sectors of the market[3]. These activities are relatively easier to enter and demand very low financial and human capital requirements[4]. Asians, including Indians, Chinese, Bangladesh and Pakistani constitute a great proportion of the ethnic minorities in Britain as well as a significant potion of the ethnic minority business community in Great Britain. Basu[5], in a study examining the role of informal and formal institutional support in Asian entrepreneurial expansion in Britain suggest that both formal and informal institutional support have played a limited role in fostering Asian entrepreneurial expansion in Britain. Despite the availability of bank finance, rapidly growing Asian businesses did not rely on bank finance either at start-up or for expansion[6]. Basu attributes these findings to the short-term perspective of banks. All businesses need sufficient funds at start-up to enable them succeed, grow and be profitable in the long run. Capital investment, product and service development as well as marketing costs need to be covered. Businesses fund much of their initial funding from their own resources but have specific needs at a given point in time in the course of their business. Most small businesses tend to rely on loan finance and overdrafts from banks, with equity investment often necessary to enable considerable expansion[7]. According to renewal.net Overview[8], quoting Policy Action Team 3 (PAT3) on Entrepreneurial and Social Exclusion there are general barriers to raising funds faced by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) whatever their location. Small and medium size enterprises are regarded by banks as involving higher risk and monitoring costs than other larger investments such as equity investments. As a result small and medium sized enterprises face additional difficulties in depriv ed areas as follows: Funders may regard businesses in these areas as higher risk, since they rely on fragile local demand, may be less well capitalised (i.e., have less of their own funds to cover their requirements) and offer limited collateral à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" assets which can cover losses to the funder should the business fail. (An example of collateral is that part of the value of a house which the owner owns outright and is not subject to mortgage.) The price of mainstream finance may be prohibitive, even if it can be accessed. People lacking experience in running successful small businesses are less likely able to present their plans and financial information credibly to a funding body. There may be communication difficulties where business owners and funding bodies come from different ethnic backgrounds According to renewal.net Overview[9], people on benefits may need an à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“income bridgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  to see them through their early stages of running a business, when they incur start-up costs, lose entitlement t o benefit and cannot be sure of the income they will generate. According to renewal.net Overview[10], evidence from the Bank of England suggest that many Ethnic minority business owners perceive bank services as not geared towards their needs and as such are treated harshly when they try to source funds from these services. One third of Asians and two fifth of African Caribbean loan applicants reported having problems obtaining bank loans[11]. Reports from the bank also suggest that some of the Asian communities that have received family support in the past as a result of strong family networks now face difficulties raising start-up finance as a result of weakening family structures[12]. This paper is aimed at studying the financing of ethnic minority businesse s in the United Kingdom with particular focus on the Asian perspective. The rest of the paper is organised as follows: section 2 describes the methodology used in achieving the paperà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s objective; section 3 focuses on the theoretical framework with particular emphasis on the financing sources that theory prescribes for start-up companies; section elaborates on the presentation of data and analysis with particular emphasis on how the Asian minority businesses raise finance as opposed to the White ethnic group and other minority groups such as the African Caribbean (ACB) group. This section also provides an analysis of why Asian Minority businesses engage in business, the type of businesses and the profitability and growth prospects of the business; section 5 presents some conclusions based on the findings from the analysis in section 4. It also provides recommendations and identifies areas for further research. Data Collection and Research Methods. The method that will be adopted in the study will be a qualitative and quantitative method. Considering the time frame, it will be difficult to gather primary data for analysis. The research will therefore be highly based on the analysis of secondary data concerning ethnic minority businesses in the UK focusing particular attention on information and data concerning Asian minorities such as Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Chinese. This will be done by gathering and analysing data from secondary sources and drawing conclusions based on the analysis. The main data sources that will be utilised in the study will include peer reviewed journal articles in the subject area, articles and numerical data from the bank of England, the UK Department of Statistics and the Home Office. The data will be analysed by comparing proportions, raw numbers, communities and other important variables. The limitation with the method adopted here is that it is based only on secondary data and informati on that has been gathered by other researchers. It is believed that the results could have been more robust if primary data was gathered and analysed at fresh. However, considering the fact that most of the studies have been carried out by renowned researchers in the field and also taking into consideration the fact that the studies have been published in peer reviewed articles, the results can considered general and thus a motivation for why this study is focusing on the data gathered by these previous studies. Theoretical Framework 3.1 Sources of Start-up Finance Small businesses are often very immature to raise finance in the equity or other sophisticated markets. Unlike the more sophisticated businesses that can issue common stocks and bonds in the open market, small businesses such as partnerships and sole proprietorships and small and medium size enterprises are relegated to other sources of finance. The main sources of finance to start-up companies can be classified into formal and informal sources. Formal sources include finances from banks, venture capitalists, credit unions, business angels and so on. Informal sources include personal savings, family funds and funds from friends. 3.1.1 Venture Capital Finance Black[13] defines venture as capital whose owners are willing to invest in new or small businesses, where the risk of losing it is high. Venture capital is required when entrepreneurs with limited funds have the ability to start a new venture[14]. It is also referred to as risk capital because it is usually invested in projects with substantial elements of risk[15]. Considering the amount of risk inherent in venture capital investments, the expected return on the investment is usually very high[16]. Venture capital firms are typically made up of professional private equity managers representing large institutional investors such as mutual funds, and pension funds[17]. The limited partnership is the dominant form of intermediation in the venture capital market with the institutional investors acting as limited partners and the professional mangers acting as general partners[18]. General partners include firms that have a high esteem in funding and managing equity investments in closely held private firms. The private equity market is important for both start-up and established firms[19]. There are four main types of venture capital providers which include old-line wealthy families such as the Rockefeller family have traditionally provided start-up capital to promising businesses and have been actively involved in venture capital financing for a better part of the 21st century[20]. The second type of venture capital firms include a number of private partnerships and corporations t hat have been formed to provide investment capital to budding entrepreneurs[21]. The main people behind this form of venture capital include institutional investors such as insurance companies and pension funds who provide the necessary finance to the partnerships[22]. Examples of these partnerships include the American Research and Development (ARD), formed in 1946[23]. The most recent venture capital partnership is the Arthur Rock Co. of San Francisco which has achieved near mythic stature in the venture capital industry following its investment in Apple Computer and other high-tech firms[24]. According to estimates, the total number of venture capital firms across the globe stand at about 2000[25]. In those days it was believed that the venture capital companies were the easiest sources of finance. However, even if that has been the case in the past, it is not the case today since obtaining finance through a venture capital firm demands a lot on the part of the borrower today. Venture capital firms today employ a lot of screening tools and procedures to prevent inappropriate funding. For example, venture capitalists have at least one employee whose full time job is only to read proposals for funding[26]. There are six main stages of venture capital financing as identified in Ross et al (1999: p. 518): Seed-money Stage: at this stage a small amount of financing is needed to prove a concept or develop a product. Marketing is not included at this stage. Start-up. This refers to the financing for firms that started within the past year. The funds at this stage are used for marketing and product development expenses. First-Round Financing: at this stage additional finance is necessary to begin production and sales after a firm has exhausted its start-up capital. Second-Round Financing: these and finances geared towards working capital for a firm that is already making sales but not yet breaking even. Third-Round Financing: provided for firms that that are at least breaking even and contemplating expansion otherwise referred to as mezzanine financing. Fourth-Round Financing: financing provided for firms that are likely to go into the equity market within half a year. This financing is also referred to as bridge financing. Until the early 1980s when the Conservative Administration implemented new policy measures, little was known about venture capital in the United Kingdom[27]. The Companies act of 1981 created the business start-up scheme, which was later, renamed the Business expansion scheme. The scheme encouraged private individuals to invest in organisations, which were in turn, investing in unquoted companies[28]. The Companies Act of 1981 also resulted in the creation of the Unlisted Securities Market, which gave future exit mechanisms to venture capital organisations and individuals prepared to invest in currently illiquid investments. The main objectives of the government in enacting the 1981 Companies Act was to ensure the flow of funds to small firms, and high technology firms in particular, in recognition of their potential contribution to the regeneration of the economy following the 1974-1975 recession[29]. 3.1.2 Business Angels Moles and Terry[30] define business angels as individuals prepared to provide for high-risk, start-up business ventures and asserts that the term angel is also applied to backers of stage shows in the theatre business. It derives from the intention to do good rather than make a quick return on the money. Business angels are usually ex-entrepreneurs or business managers with a high quest to invest time and money in local start-up companies, typically in high technology sectors[31]. Their investments are usually small and take the form of minority shareholding for a period of anything up to ten years[32]. These angels are usually motivated by the entrepreneurial atmosphere and seek to be actively involved in their funded companies[33]. According to Wilson[34] quoting Mason et al (1991), the role of business angels in the UK is very significant and it is playing a major and important role in the financing of small business in the country. The business angels in the UK make investments typically under  £50,000 and a significant portion of these investments are in new and recently established ventures. These angels are therefore playing a significant role in bridging the gap between equity finance and start-up finance[35]. In addition entrepreneurs are more likely to raise start-up finance from the business angels than from venture capital firms who have a higher rejection rate than the business angels[36]. Business angels also target lower rates of return than venture capitalists, as they are always ready to see the company grow before they can start expecting returns on their investments[37]. 3.1.3 Bank Financing Banks play a major role in the financing of start-up businesses. Bank finance can be in the form of overdrafts for existing customers as well as bank loans and other forms of borrowing. Banks usually provide start-up finance to businesses in the form of loans, which carry a fixed rate of interest payable on an annual basis. There is usually also a fixed term within which the principal and any accrued interest must be paid back to the bank. While some bank loans may require that the borrower have sufficient liquid assets that can be put up as collateral, others can be granted without such a requirement. It all depends on how the bank evaluates the risk of the venture in which the borrower intends to invest the loan. In the United Kingdom, High street banks have recently introduced a number of innovations to attract new small business customers[38]. UK high street banks are now more interested in providing both business and financial advice to clients so as to ensure that the businesse s they invest in have good plans and therefore limit the rejection rate of loan applications. High street banks have also been willing to invest in enterprises that target the development of certain communities. For example, the Community Loan Fund for North West, to which the Co-operative Bank contributed  £300,000, in 1999 National Westminster, launched a community bond scheme for nine English RDA regions (and Scotland and Wales) in order to invest locally in previously un-bankable projects[39]. Banks have also developed services targeted at a particular clientele groups. For example, the HSBC South Asian Banking Scheme. Banks have also been considering opportunities and diversity training very seriously resulting in the improvements in service for clients from the Business Minority ethnic (BME) groups (BME)[40]. An important role is also played by overseas or Ethnic Banks in export finance, through the provision of trade services and project finance. There is also the availability of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, which is designed to improve access to bank finance for businesses experiencing financial hardship as a result of lack of collateral security of trading record, or a combination of both[41]. However, it is still very difficult for very small firms and high risk ventures to tap from the latter facility given their high degree of potential default risk[42]. 3.1.3 Community Development Finance Initiatives Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) is a new term that constitutes a range of organisations that seek funding and at the same time meeting financial and regeneration objectives. There are four types of community development finance institutions, which include: loan funds; micro-credit funds; social banks; and credit unions. a. Local Loan and Micro-credit Funds These institutions, which are often run by enterprise agencies, exist to provide financial and moral support to applicants who have been unable to raise sufficient funds from other sources, as a result of the lack of a track record, collateral security or a combination of both[43]. The main type of support is in the form of advice, mentoring and/ or training to help build up the business and protect the venture from falling. Examples of this type of support include the Bolton Business Ventures Loan Fund, and the London Business Start-up Loan Fund. Many of these loan funds provide loans below the base rate offered by High street Banks and as such are referred to as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“soft loansà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . However, other borrowers outside the community involved are charged higher rates of interest to compensate for the extra risk taken and to ensure that they can rebalance their ability to provide funding in future[44]. These loan schemes are usually financed by Banks who provide som e one on secondment to help with managing the fund, or have a bank representative in the panels deciding on how to distribute the loans[45]. Some of the funds are geared towards business expansion, such as the London Business Growth Fund, which provides unsecured loans of up to  £20,000 to businesses from socially and economically disadvantaged groups who have been refused finance from a mainstream lender[46]. This fund is managed by Business Link for London and oneLondon. Other funds such as the 3b Investment Fund, run by 3b (Black Business Birmingham) who are now expanding their scheme to the Black Country with the support of the Phoenix Fund are targeted at particular customer groups[47]. Micro-Credit funds are funds that make very small loans (usually below  £5,000) to micro-entrepreneurs, typically sole traders or people in business with family or friends. The needs of these clients usually involve the buying of tools or trading stock[48]. There is another fund targeted towards financing unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 30 years. Applicants to this fund are expected to have good business ideas and prove that the have difficulties sourcing funds elsewhere. This fund which is referred to as the Princes Trust Business Programme provides bursaries, which can be offset against necessary costs of setting up a venture, test marketing grants of up to  £250 and start-up loans of up to  £5,000 to acquire fixed assets or working capital and/ or fund further training. This programme was co-funded by the Department of Work and Pensions and it was targeted to help 35,000 young people into employment over the period, 1999 to 2006. Another Fund is PRIME (Princeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s initiative for Mature Enterprise), which is a related UK wide organisation promoting self-employment amongst people over 50, and proving a loan fund of last resort[49]. b. Social Banks These are profit maximising financial service providers designed to achieve social and environmental objectives[50]. The Triodos for example, provides financial services to enterprises, which are of cultural, social, or environmental value; the trade union and co-operative movement established Unity Trust to provide account services for the charitable sector. This trust is working in collaboration with the Co-operative Bank in promoting Mutual Loan Guarantee Societies. Mutual Guarantee Societies refer to formal associations of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs), which pool their savings in banks, to offer collective guarantees improving the value of loans to members and helping achieve better lending and deposit rates. These societies increase the amounts that targeted firms can borrow from banks between 20% and 50% and provide management support for loan applications and business planning[51]. c. Peer Lending Otherwise referred to as Group Lending is a form of financing that operates on the principle that individual loans are dependent on the repayment record of the group as a whole: if one member defaults, no further lending is made to the group until the position has been adjusted[52]. An example of a peer lending group is the Full Circle Fund run by Womenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Employment Enterprise and Training Unit (WEETU). The members of this fund participate in lending decisions (peer group lending). Another example is the East End Microsoft Consortium (EEMC), which is a pilot project with the objective of widening access to finance for women, refugee groups, ethnic communities and anyone who feels financially excluded[53]. This consortium is made up of four local community-based enterprises, which have particular expertise working with these groups. d. Credit Unions Credit Unions refer to not-for-profit, co-operative savings and borrowing institutions. Their members save through shares, which are then, re-lent to members, sometimes at lower interest rates than those charged by the High Street Banks[54]. The United Kingdom constitutes more than 600 credit unions, which are divided into three main types: employee credit unions, community credit unions (defined by location), and association credit unions (defined by interest, e.g., a church group)[55]. Many credit Unions treat disadvantage communities as their thematic areas, while a few specifically target businesses, for example, North London Chamber and Enterprise Credit Union, and the Federation of Small Businesses Credit Union[56]. Most credit unions regard business financing as riskier ventures than personal lending and as such the small scale of the UK credit unions make the risk unacceptable[57]. Credit unions are now regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and provision for com pensation for depositors in the event of default has now been strengthened, thereby making credit unions more willing to lend for business purposes[58]. e. Partnering Schemes Partnering schemes provide members with the ability to raise larger sums of capital that would not have been raised in the absence of the scheme. An example of a partnering scheme in the UK is the Birmingham Partner Fund, a co-operative created to raise capital from the African Caribbean Community in Birmingham with a view to investing the proceeds in commercially viable businesses in that community[59]. Members are committed to regular monthly savings over a fixed period of time and the proceeds can be used to provide additional financing. Other funding alternatives include asset-based finance e.g. leasing and hire purchase, factoring and invoice discounting and licensed moneylenders as well as government grants. a. Leasing and Hire Purchase A lease is a contractual agreement between a lessee and a lessor, which establishes that the lessee has the right to use an asset and in return must make periodic payments to the lessor, the owner of the asset. The lessor can either be the manufacturer of the asset or an independent leasing company. If the lessor is an independent leasing company, it must buy the asset from the manufacturer. Then the lessor delivers the asset to the lessee, and the goes into effect.[60] As far as the lessee is concerned, it is the use of the asset that is most important, not who owns the asset. The use of an asset can be obtained by a lease contract. Because the user can also buy the asset, leasing and buying involve alternative financing arrangements for the use of an asset. There are two main types of leases including: operating and finance leases. In the yester years, an operating lease was regarded as a lease where the lessee received an operator along with the leased asset. Though the operating lease defies an exact definition today, this form of leasing has several important characteristics[61]: -Operating leases are usually not fully amortised. This implies that the payments required under the lease contract are not enough to recover the full cost of the asset for the lessor. This occurs because the term or life of the operating lease is usually less that the useful life of the asset[62]. Thus, the lessor must expect to recover the cost of the asset by renewing the lease or by selling the asset for its salvage value. -Operating leases usually require the lessor to maintain and insure the leased assets. -Perhaps the most interesting feature of an operating lease is the cancellation option. This option gives the lessee the right to cancel the lease contract before the maturity date. If the option to cancel is exercised, the lessee must return the asset to the lessor. The value of a cancellation clause depends on whether future technological and/or economic conditions are likely to make the value of the asset to the lessee less that the value of the future payments under the lease[63]. Financial leases are the exact opposite of operating leases, as is seen from their important characteristics[64]: Finance leases do not provide for maintenance or service by the lessor. Financial leases are fully amortised by the lessee The lessee usually has the right to renew the lease on expiration Generally, financial leases cannot be cancelled. In other words, the lessee must make all payments or face the risk of bankruptcy. Because of the above characteristics, particularly (2), this lease provides an alternative method of financing to purchase. Hence, its name is a sensible one. Two special types of financial leases are the sale and lease back arrangement and the leveraged lease. i). Sale and lease-back A sale and lease-back occurs when a company sells an asset it owns to another firm and immediately leases it back. In a sale and lease-back, two things happen[65]: -The lessee receives cash from the sale of the asset -The lessee makes periodic payments, thereby retaining use of the asset. An example of a sale and lease-back occurred when the city of Oakland, California, used the proceeds of a sale of its city hall and 23 other buildings to help meet the liabilities of the $150 million Police and Retirement System. As part of the same transaction, Oakland leased back the buildings to obtain their continued use[66]. ii). Leveraged Lease -A leveraged lease is a three-sided arrangement among the lessee, the lessor and the lenders[67]. As in the other leases, the lessee uses the asset and makes periodic lease payments. as in the other leases, the lessor purchases the asset, delivers it to the lessee, and collects lease payments. However, the lessor puts up no more than 40% to 50% of the purchase price. -The lenders supply the remaining financing and receive interest payments from the lessor. The lenders in a leveraged lease typically use a non-recourse loan. This implies that the lessor is not obligated to the lenders in case of default. However, the lender is protected in two ways: The lender has a first lien on the asset In the even of loan default, the lease payments are made directly to the lender. The lessor puts up only part of the funds but gets the lease payments and all the tax benefits of ownership. These lease payments are used to pay the debt service of the non-recourse loan. The lessee benefits because, in a competitive market, the lease payment is lowered when the lessor saves taxes[68] A hire purchase (HP) is a method of buying goods in which the purchaser takes possession of them as soon as an initial instalment of the price (a deposit) has been paid; subsequent instalments are paid either on a monthly or quarterly basis and ownership is obtained when all the agreed number of subsequent instalments have been completed[69]. A hire-purchase agreement differs from a credit-sale agreement and sale by instalments (or a deferred payment agreement) because in that in the latter transactions, ownership passes when the contract is signed[70]. It also differs from a contract of hire, because in this case ownership never passes. Hire-purchase agreements in the UK were formerly controlled by government regulations stipulating the minimum deposit and the length of the repayment period[71]. These controls were removed in 1982. Hire-purchase agreements were also formerly controlled by the Hire Purchase Act 1965, but most are now regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974[72]. In this Act a hire-purchase agreement is regarded as one in which goods are bailed in return for periodical payments by the bailee; ownership passes to the bailee if the terms of the agreement are complied with and the option to purchase is exercised[73]. A hire purchase agreement like a leveraged financial lease involves three parties to the contract including the hirer, the seller of the goods and a finance company. The finance company purchases the asset from the seller and enters into the hire purchase contract with the hirer[74]. b. Government Grants A government grant is an amount paid to an organization to assist it to pursue activities considered socially or economically desirable[75]. An example of a government grant in the UK is the South Tyneside Council which provides Start-up Grants towards the capital expenditures of establishing a new business (up to 50% to a maximum of  £5,000) and Business Expansion Grants towards planned expansion of an existing business engaged in manufacture or supply of services to the industry (up to 30%, to a maximum of  £5,000)[76]. The trend in government grants has been moving towards loans rather than grant schemes although grant schemes with very specific purposes continue to feature in the programmes of many public agencies, e.g., the DTIà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s SMART scheme makes grants to help individuals and small businesses to make better use of technology and to develop technologically innovative products and processes[77]. c. Personal Savings Personal savings reflect the personal finances of an individual earned through employment or other sources such as inheritance and the sale of personal properties. These funds play an important role for start-up finance in that they can provide the initial force behind the investment. Most funding bodies and banks would prefer to form a company that has began operating already rather that begin risking their finances at the very beginning. Personal savings are closely related to family funds in that they are both informal sources of start-up capital. Family funds can come in the form of loans from close family members such as parents, grandparents, children, brothers, sisters as well as uncles and aunts. These funds also play an important role in providing the initial force behind the investment project while waiting for financing from formal sources such as Banks and government agencies. DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 4.1 Self-Employment Rates in the UK Table 1. Self employment rates for selected ethnic groups in great Britain, 1991. White Black Caribbean Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese All Total Number of self employed by ethnic group 2,922,917 13,392 97,340 22,642 5060 17,869 3,078,436 As % of economically active members of ethnic group 7.0 3.4 11.4 8.3 5.9 14.9 7.0 Source: Adapted from Dhaliwal[78] quoting Barret et al (1996: p. 784) The table above shows the number of people who were self-employed in the UK as at 1991. The figures show that most of the self-employed in the UK as at that time were the ethnic minority groups with the Indians demonstrating the Asian ethnic minority groups demonstrating the highest percentages of self-employed as compared to their total number. Chinese demonstrated a total number of 17,869 people. Of this total, 14.9% were self employed. They were followed by the Indians with 11.4% self-employees out of a total number of 97,340. Next came the Pakistani with a self-employment percentage of 8.3% out of a total number of 22,642. The Bangladeshi was the only Asian ethnic group that demonstrated a self-employment percentage below that of the whites. That is, 5.9% as opposed to 7.0% for the whites. As compared to the Black Caribbean ethnic group, one can see that the Asian minority demonstrates a far higher percentage of self employment than any other ethnic minority or white group in the UK. 4.2 Why Asian Ethnic Minorities Engage in Small Businesses in the United Kingdom Most ethnic minorities tend to engage in small businesses or self-employed activities because of the difficulties faced in securing a job. Some of them simply want to be independent and others do business just for the doing of it. Some of them enjoy being referred to as business men. In addition, it is usually more difficult to meet work permit requirements as an immigrant in the UK and as such the most lucrative source of income for the time being is business. We can therefore conclude that some of the ethnic minorities enter into business during waiting times for work permits and other home office requirements. Another important reason that one can advocate for Asians entering into business is language barriers. Irrespective of their qualifications some of them might be unable to express themselves in good English and as such may find it difficult securing a job. 4.3 Types of Businesses they engage in Ethnic minority businesses in Europe including the Asian ethnic minority community in the earlier years centred their businesses around saturated and unprofitable niches[79]. However, in recent times, ethnic minority businesses have started engaging in emerging business sectors such as mobile phones, IT consultancy and computer manufacturing[80]. Others are engaged in less technology-driven areas such as nursing, teaching and training agencies, and care homes. They are also recently increasing their presence in media, insurance and financial services[81]. From table 4 above, one can see that most of the ethnic minorities are involved in retail and mobile phones with a few of them in wholesale, fashion, laundry and IT. This indicates that that are relegated to low-rewarding activities as earlier mentioned in the introduction[82]. In addition some are engaged in more sophisticated industries such as hotels, shipping and steel manufacturing[83]. 4.4 Sources of Start-Up Capital and Advice for Ethnic Minority Firms Table 2: Source of start-up capital: contribution of each source Degree of reliance None Less than or equal to 50% Greater than 50% Mean share of each source Personal savings 47 (26.7) 55(31.3) 74(42.0) 51.01 Family capital 115(65.3) 26(14.8) 35(19.9) 22.65 Bank loans 110(62.5) 38(21.6) 28(15.9) 20.86 Figures in brackets represent the percentage share of the sample Source: Adapted from Basu[84] Table 4: Case study firms: Financial sources Code Ethnicity Sector Source of finance TRADITIONAL S1 Indian Wholesale Personal savings S2 Pakistani Wholesale Family and friends S4 Indian Laundry Personal savings S5 Indian Restaurant Bank B1 Pakistani Retail Bank B2 Indian Retail Personal savings B15 Bangladeshi Retail Family and friends B16 Bangladeshi Clothing Personal savings B25 White Retail Personal savings L6 Chinese Travel Personal savings L7 Chinese Estate agent Personal savings L8 Chinese Restaurant Family and friends EMERGENT S6 Chinese Fashion Bank S8 Pakistani IT Bank S9 Pakistani IT Bank S10 Pakistani Mobile phones Personal savings B4 Pakistani Health Personal savings B5 Pakistani Mobile phones Family and friends B6 Bangladesh Mobile phones Bank B17 Pakistani Finance Bank B19 Indian IT Family and friends L10 White IT Bank B24 White Consultancy Bank Source: Adapted from Ram et al[85] Table 5: External Finance from Formal Sources at Start-up ( Finance from sources other than personal savings, family or friends) Firms Obtaining External Finance Firms Obtaining Bank Finance No. of Respondents (N) No. % No. % ACB 55 31 38 21 177 Pakistani 57 35 55 34 162 Indian 74 41 67 37 179 Bangladeshi 44 34 43 33 131 Chinese 84 51 81 49 164 All EMBs 314 39 284 35 813 White owned 93 39 82 34 240 All firms 407 39 366 35 1053 Source: Adapted from Smallbone et al[86] Table 2 through to 7 shows the different ways in which the Asian ethnic minority groups raise finance. As we can see the main sources of their start-up funds are both from formal and informal sources of finance. Formal sources mainly include bank loans, and other sources such as grants and venture capital firms. Informal sources include personal savings, family and friends. Most of the ethnic minorities raise finance through personal savings. According to the survey carried out by Ram et al[87] on the issue of how the ethnic minorities raise finance, 9 out of the 21 ethnic minority respondents reported that they raised initial or start-up capital from personal savings, 5 reported that their initial capital was raised from family and friends while the remaining 7 succeeded in raising start-up capital from banks. According to the study by Basu[88], and looking at the figures in table 2 above, it was found that only 47 respondents (26.7%) did not rely at all on personal savings as part of their start-up capital contribution, 55 (31.3%) reported that their degree of reliance on personal savings was at least 50% while 74 (42%) reported that their degree of reliance on personal savings was above 50%. As concerns the degree of reliance on family funds, 115 (65.3%) reported that they did not rely at all on family funds, 26 (14.8%) reported that they relied at l east 50% on family funds while 35 (19.9%) responded that their degree of reliance on family funds was above 50%. For bank loans, 110 (62.5%) said they did not rely at all on bank loans, 38 (21.6%) reported they relied at least 50% on bank loans and 28 (15.9%) claimed that their degree of reliance on bank loans for start-up capital was above 50%. Overall the mean share of start-up capital from personal savings was 51.01%, that from family funds was 22.65% while the share from bank loans was 26.8%. In another study by Smallbone et al[89], we observe from the table 5 that 84 Chinese respondents constituting a percentage of 51% obtained start-up finance from External sources, 74 Indians constituting a percentage of 41% obtained external financing, 57 Pakistanis, constituting a percentage of 35% obtained external financing while 44 Bangladeshi constituting a percentage of 34% obtained external finance. The study by Smallbone et al[90] included white owned businesses as control groups as well as African Caribbean (ACB). As a basis for comparison, one can observe that as far as external financing is concerned, the ACB obtained the lowest percentage (31%) of external financing for start-up while the white owned group obtained 39% of external financing as start-up capital. In addition, the total percentage of EMBs as shown in table 5 that obtained external financing at start-up constituted only 39% of the total number of firms. Of this number the Asian minorities appeared to have obtained the greater share of the external financing. Among the Asian minorities, the Chinese scored the highest percentage followed by the Indians, then the Pakistanis and lastly by the Indians. As far as bank financing is concerned one can observe from table 5 that the Chinese among the ethnic minorities and among the Asian ethnic minorities again obtained the highest amount of bank finance as start-up capital. Even their white owned counterparts scored below them in terms of obtaining bank financing at start-up, that is, 49% for the Chinese businesses as opposed to 34% for the White-owned businesses The Indians came second with 37% also above their White-owned counterparts. Table 6: The propensity of Firms to Access Start-up Finance from Family and Friends Yes % No % Donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know % Respondents % ACB 70 40 101 57 6 3 177 100 Pakistani 90 52 63 37 19 11 172 100 Indian 83 46 84 46 15 8 182 100 Bangladeshi 74 54 47 35 15 11 136 100 Chinese 54 35 94 61 6 4 154 100 All EMBs 371 45 389 47 61 7 821 100 White-owned 63 25 162 65 25 10 250 100 All firms 434 41 551 51 86 8 1071 100 Source: Adapted from Smallbone et al[91] Table 6 above shows the propensity of firms to access start-up finance from family and friends as observed by Smallbone et al[92]. One can observe from the table that among the Asian minorities that the Bangladeshi group is most likely to access family funds at start-up with a total number of 74 (54%) respondents answering à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“yesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  to the survey. The lowest percentage was observed for the Chinese among the Asian ethnic minority group with a total number of 54 (35%) respondents answering à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“yesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  to the survey. The Pakistani and Indian groups follow the Bangladeshi group with 90 (52%) and 83 (46%) respondents answering à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“yesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  to the survey respectively. The white control group shows the lowest propensity to access family funds at start-up. For comparison purposes, the African Caribbean group showed a somewhat high percentage above the Chinese group and the White-owned control group but below the rest of th e Asian minority group members, that is Bangladesh,