The global milkbar and the local sweatshop: ethnic small business and the economic restructuring of Sydney

This report presents the findings of a two-year research project on economic restructuring, migrant employment and the growth of small business in Sydney. Most of the empirical work took place in Marrickville, which has the highest proportion of overseas-born population of any local government area in NSW. The project was funded mainly by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, with additional support coming from the Australian Research Grants Scheme and its successor, the Australian Research Council, Kuring-gai CAE, and the University of Sydney. An interdisciplinary approach was adopted to look at economic restructuring in Australia, its effect on regional and local economic and social structures, the consequences for migrant workers of different backgrounds, and the trend towards self-employment and establishment of small businesses by members of various ethnic groups.