The cornerstone of the book is the proposed Eclectic Theory of Entrepreneurship. The goal of the Eclectic Theory is to provide a unified framework for understanding and analyzing the determinants of entrepreneurship. The Eclectic Theory of entrepreneurship integrates the different strands from relevant fields into a unifying, coherent framework.

Without a clear and organized view of where and how entrepreneurship manifests itself, policy makers have been left in uncharted waters without an analytical compass. The purpose of this book is to provide such an analytical compass for directing how public policy can shape and promote entrepreneurship. We do this in two ways. The first is to provide a framework for policymakers and scholars to understand what determines entrepreneurship. The second is to apply this framework to a series of cases, or country studies. In particular, this book seeks to answer three questions about entrepreneurship: What has happened over time? Why did it happen? And, what has been the role of government policy? The cornerstone of the book is the proposed Eclectic Theory of Entrepreneurship. The goal of the Eclectic Theory is to provide a unified framework for understanding and analyzing the determinants of entrepreneurship. The Eclectic Theory of entrepreneurship integrates the different strands from relevant fields into a unifying, coherent framework. At the heart of the Eclectic Theory is the integration of factors shaping the demand for entrepreneurship on the one hand, with those influencing the supply of entrepreneurs on the other hand. The key to understanding the role of public policy is through identifying those channels shifting either the demand for or the supply of entrepreneurship by policy instruments. The findings in this book show that, by utilizing the framework provided by the Eclectic Theory of Entrepreneurship, it is within the grasp of policymakers to identify the determinants of entrepreneurship in a particular country setting at a particular point in time. This will be essential in formulating new public policies to promote entrepreneurship and, ultimately, economic growth, job creation and international competitiveness.

This volume provides a comprehensive review of the theoretical concepts and empirical models of entrepreneurship from a non-conventional perspective. It makes recent advances in the theory and application of the economics of entrepreneurship accessible to a wider audience, including policy makers. It emphasizes data requirements to advance the future research agenda and to allow for a better design and monitoring of entrepreneurial policy.

This book is a well written and handy source for readers. Additionally, it provides an overview of current issues relevant to the development of entrepreneurial policy, which is based on interesting case studies across a number of nations. . . Dessy Irawati, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research What is new in the world is the need to understand business dynamics; the entry, exit and growth of firms in the economy. This dynamic firm structure, as opposed to the static firm structure that dominated past thinking, has spurred an outpouring of research. The heart of the issue is that while many have identified the importance of business dynamics (entry and exit) we have only recently taken a closer look at the ecological system in which some companies must die for others to thrive. Entrepreneurs are the predators of this system. Public policy in an entrepreneurial economy (dynamic) must limit the forces that prevent firm exit and foster the forces that promote firm entry. This book makes an important contribution to the debate. Zoltan J. Acs, George Mason University, US and Max Planck Institute of Economics, Germany This unique Handbook provides a solid foundation for essential study in the nascent field of entrepreneurship policy research. This foundation is initially developed via the exploration of two significant propositions underpinning the nature of entrepreneurship policy research. The first is that entrepreneurship has emerged as a bona fide focus of public policy, particularly with respect to economic growth and employment creation. The second is that neither scholars nor policy makers are presently equipped to understand the public policy role for entrepreneurship. The contributors experienced scholars, specialist researchers and dynamic policy makers thus grapple with novel questions of considerable policy relevance that few have previously posed. The Handbook therefore provides some of the first crucial, systematic analyses of important issues, and key questions to be raised in order to move entrepreneurship policy forward are also presented. Written by academics and practitioners drawing examples from both North America and Europe, this stimulating new Handbook is a prerequisite for students, scholars and practitioners in the incipient world of entrepreneurship policy.

Once relegated to the dusty shelves of ancient muses, research and scholarship on entrepreneurship has exploded as a field of research, with impactful additions from a range of disciplines rendering the field a tricky one to traverse. The Routledge Companion to the Makers of Modern Entrepreneurship offers a comprehensive guide to entrepreneurship, providing an authoritative exploration of the key people and their ideas. This book tells the stories of the scholars who have set the standard and tone for thinking and analysing entrepreneurship. Edited by two of the world’s leading entrepreneurship scholars, this comprehensive volume offers a platform for understanding and future research that is both state-of-the-art and authoritative. It expands on how modern entrepreneurship has developed, with a focus on the key "makers" of the field – including theories, such as social psychology; concepts, such as neuroeconomics; and types, such as political entrepreneurship. The contributions to the collection are grouped into three sections: Emergence of Entrepreneurship Research Theories in Modern Entrepreneurship Concepts and Makers in Modern Entrepreneurship This companion is essential reading for students and academics interested in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial management and business management.