Chinese migration, entrepreneurship and development in the new global economy

Since 2007, the symposia have been held in alternate years at the Monash Prato Centre and Wenzhou University as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between these universities, the PIN Polo Universitario ‘Città di Prato’ - University of Florence, and the Prato Province. This collaboration has fostered valuable contributions to knowledge and understanding of the migrant experience, in the sending and receiving societies, by means of symposia and conferences, cultural events and the many publications in multiple languages which have resulted from our research.

About the 2013 symposia

It is common that migrants coming from the same sending areas form communities in the receiving societies, in which members are linked by social and economic networks. These networks usually extend to people who remain in the sending areas. It is also known that Wenzhou Chinese migration is characterised by a specific entrepreneurial culture (small family businesses which are often interconnected) and that Chinese communities are scattered all over the world and linked by networks. In recent decades, marked by increasing globalisation and the rise of China as an economic superpower, the role of Chinese migrants and in particular of Chinese entrepreneurs (especially transnational entrepreneurs) has dramatically changed, with important consequences for the economic, social and political contexts of both the sending and receiving areas. Despite the significance of this change, little is known about its processes and consequences. Gathering to discuss new research from an interdisciplinary perspective on these issues, the 2013 symposia aim at reaching a better understanding of Chinese migration in the present era of globalisation.

Main topics

1. Chinese investment strategies and migration: Do diaspora matter, and to whom?
2. Chinese entrepreneurship.
3. The role of returnees.
4. Chinese migrant transnational networks and cross-regional/national bridges.
5. Impact of Chinese migration for the sending area/country.
6. Impact of Chinese migration for the receiving area/country.
7. Policy experiences/implications related to Chinese migration.

Call for papers

The call for papers closed on 19 April 2013. The symposia organisers will notify authors of the outcome of their submission by 31 May 2013.

Prof. Gabi Dei Ottati, Prof. Simone Guercini

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