Publication Type

Book Chapter

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

1-2014

Abstract

As moneylenders during nineteenth century colonial period the Chettiars were functioned as informal bankers in Asia. They began as communal entrepreneurs in their clan but grew beyond their domestic borders. Despite their smallness and resources, they were able to internationalize. This paper reports a study into their internationalization examining the manner they were able to successfully venture abroad. We found that external factors like the British protectorate and internal factors like their unique socio-cultural institutions and norms and values served as enabling factors for their internationalization. These include a family culture of training the sons for the business, embracing business best practices, replicating domestic social structures overseas and the Chettiar community abroad. The social structures extended overseas provided the social support network for Chettiars leaving their homes and the overseas Chettiar community provided the networks for international expansion.

Keywords

Chettiars, Singapore, Banking, entrepreneurship

Discipline

Asian Studies | Finance and Financial Management | Organizational Behavior and Theory

Research Areas

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources

Publication

Catalyst for Change: Chinese Business in Asia

First Page

397

Last Page

417

ISBN

9789814452410

Identifier

10.1142/9789814452427_0017

Publisher

World Scientific

City or Country

Singapore

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://worldcat.org/isbn/9789814452410

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