ETHNICITY AND CULTURAL VALUES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF MALAY AND CHINESE ENTREPRENEURS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Abstract

Previous research suggests that Malays and Chinese in Malaysia have very different values. This proposition has serious implications as value differences are often used to explain gaps in economic performance between the two communities. However, much of the said research is either conceptual or qualitative, and therefore not able to provide statistical evidence regarding the extent of difference. The current study was concerned with whether the differences are significant, and thus adopted a quantitative method of analysis. Due to socio-economic implications of entrepreneurship, the study focused on entrepreneurs as its unit of analysis. In the study, Hofstede’s (1980, 2001) cultural framework was used to construct ethnic values. Results indicate that significant differences exist in only two out of five value dimensions. The findings suggest that while some value differences can be used to explain gaps in economic performance between the two ethnic groups, structural and demographic factors may be just as important.