Looking inside the spiky bits: a critical review and conceptualisation of entrepreneurial ecosystems

Ross Brown () and Colin Mason ()
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Ross Brown: University of St Andrews
Colin Mason: University of Glasgow

Small Business Economics, 2017, vol. 49, issue 1, No 2, 30 pages

Abstract: Abstract The concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems has quickly established itself as one of the latest ‘fads’ in entrepreneurship research. At face value, this kind of systemic approach to entrepreneurship offers a new and distinctive path for scholars and policy makers to help understand and foster growth-oriented entrepreneurship. However, its lack of specification and conceptual limitations has undoubtedly hindered our understanding of these complex organisms. Indeed, the rapid adoption of the concept has tended to overlook the heterogeneous nature of ecosystems. This paper provides a critical review and conceptualisation of the ecosystems concept: it unpacks the dynamics of the concept; outlines its theoretical limitations; measurement approaches and use in policy-making. It sets out a preliminary taxonomy of different archetypal ecosystems. The paper concludes that entrepreneurial ecosystems are a highly variegated, multi-actor and multi-scalar phenomenon, requiring bespoke policy interventions.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; High growth; Entrepreneurial ecosystems; Entrepreneurship policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L26 L53 O25 R11 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (177)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11187-017-9865-7

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