TL;DRAbstract
Living in the densely packed urban slums, Jews concentrated in just two or three occupations — the so-called immigrant trades. Above all, however, in both New York’s Lower East Side and London’s East End the immigrant economy was dominated by the clothing industry.’ While garment production had begun to industrialise in the late nineteenth century, beyond the sewing machine mechanisation was slight.2 With the simple sewing machine as the main organisational locus, clothing firms were typically small and easy to establish.3 The road to entrepreneurship in the garment industry was therefore broader than in almost any other sector. Once established, however, Jewish firms competed through cutting labour costs. Ruthless competition forced many immigrants to endure a volatile existence, in and out of business.4
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Living in the densely packed urban slums, Jews concentrated in just two or three occupations — the so-called immigrant trades. Above all, however, in both New York’s Lower East Side and London’s East End the immigrant economy was dominated by the clothing industry.’ While garment production had begun to industrialise in the late nineteenth century, beyond the sewing machine mechanisation was slight.2 With the simple sewing machine as the main organisational locus, clothing firms were typically small and easy to establish.3 The road to entrepreneurship in the garment industry was therefore broader than in almost any other sector. Once established, however, Jewish firms competed through cutting labour costs. Ruthless competition forced many immigrants to endure a volatile existence, in and out of business.4
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