Solidarity and Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Solidarity is a social practice that mobilizes both relationships (social capital) and institutions (institutional capital). As such, solidarity mobilizes behaviors that can support entrepreneurial activities through ethnic capital. From a socio-historical perspective, mobilizing the theoretical developments of the institutional economics, the authors analyze how solidarity affects entrepreneurship in Haiti. The results show that solidarity is practiced in different ways within the two Haitian ethnic groups when it comes to entrepreneurship development. It facilitates more prosperous entrepreneurship among Levantines than it can allow significant size of businesses among Creoles. Subsequently, solidarity enables in different ways wealth accumulation among the two Haitian ethnic groups. Since Creoles are more numerous and poorer, solidarity as an entrepreneurship enabler can help to explain the high level of inequality and poverty in Haiti. Conversely, Levantines and mulattos are using their economic power to influence the political institutions which contribute more inequality.