Human capital or social capital - a shift in the Indian immigrant entrepreneurship scene in Australia

This resource based inter-generational study explores the propensity of Indian immigrants towards entrepreneurship in Australia. A qualitative approach is adopted through a structured observation/field survey methodology and results are reported through a multi-case study analysis from a sample from 152 entrepreneurs belonging to the first second and third generation of Indian immigrants. This paper is an outcome of the qualitative phase of the study and examines the role of social capital and the emergent significance of human capital, as critical factors that contribute to the decisions made by immigrants from India to be self employed. The research outcomes identify a) the shifting degree of accessible social and human capital resources available to immigrant Indian entrepreneurs over generations b) the predominant emphasis by recent immigrant entrepreneurs towards human capital oriented business and c) the increasing degree of ethnic social capital benefits prevailing over generations.