Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic development, which in turn impacts the challenges facing future entrepreneurs. Understanding the development of a vivid entrepreneurial society requires attention to several interacting factors, as well as expected transversal policies provided by ministries and administrations as a whole. This timely book explores institutional, behavioral and policy issues of primary importance to seizing the entrepreneurial society. Exploring the Entrepreneurial Society collects original work from renowned scholars involved in entrepreneurship research, with theoretical and empirical contributions anchored in economics, management and sociology. The chapters are structured in five distinct parts: entrepreneurship in relation to formal and informal institutions; entrepreneurial choice, orientation and success; entrepreneurial behaviors; entrepreneurial finance, growth and economic crises; and entrepreneurship, social dimensions and outcomes. By examining themes at the forefront of research interest, this book will appeal to scholars, as well as MA and PhD students, in entrepreneurship, business administration and economics. Policy makers will also be able to apply the results in a more practical context. Contributors include: E. Akola, S. Allegrezza, L. Ben Aoun-Peltier, A. Aragon Sanchez, J.H. Block, D. Boegenhold, J. Bonnet, D. Carre, G. de Wit, M. Dejardin, A. Dubrocard, N. Esteban-Lloret, F. Facchini, U. Fachinger, A. Frankus, D. Garcia Perez de Lema, P. Giordani, G. Maldonado-Guzman, J. Heinonen, G. Hernandez-Canovas, A. Jacquemin, F. Janssen, S. Larue, N. Le Pape, N. Levratto, X. Li, M. del C. Martinez Serna, H. Okamuro, E. Papaoikonomou, M.C. Ramon-Llorens, A. Risselada, U. Rizzo, A. Rubio Banon, V. Schutjens, P. Segarra, Subandono, M. Teruel Carrizosa, L. Tessier, A. van Stel, I. Verheul, N. Vi Dung, Ph, S.G. Walter

This book presents the current state-of-the-art in all major and upcoming areas of entrepreneurship research. Thousands of scholars around the world are currently working to broaden our understanding of the entrepreneurial phenomenon. The disciplines involved are numerous, as are the topics of interest, with substantial efforts to enhance the existing knowledge. This book is specifically designed to facilitate high-level, high-intensity discussions and fruitful exchanges between scholars involved in entrepreneurship research. The articles address a variety of topics ranging from self-employment, technology, growth patterns and job creation, and success and failure rates, to historical, conceptual and comparative international approaches. "This book takes entrepreneurship beyond the individual, size of the venture, entrepreneurial personality, and looks at entrepreneurship as a long term complex process that is heterogeneous, content dependent with an emphasis on innovation and growth. A must read for individuals interested in entrepreneurship, today and in the future, on a domestic and global basis." - Robert D. Hisrich, Director - Walker Center and Garvin Professor of Global Entrepreneurship, Thunderbird School of Global Management "Entrepreneurship is perhaps not just the most multifaceted but also the most important concept of the modern socio-economic disciplines. This book makes an invaluable contribution in this fascinating area: it presents a multifaceted socio-economic examination of the impact of entrepreneurship for growth." - Roy Thurik, Erasmus School of Economics in Rotterdam and Montpellier Business School

Research interest in the service sector has boomed in recent years as deindustrialisation became entrenched. Instead of being regarded as merely supplementary to traditional industry and manufacturing, services have generated progressively rising levels of growth in developed economies while at the same time coming to be recognised as major drivers of innovation. Among the factors which have helped service companies notch up swifter growth rates than all other sectors are the outsourcing of such services by other sectors, including the development of information and communication technologies, and changes to the regulatory, legal and market frameworks as well as globalisation and internationalisation. The result is a cluster of highly innovative firms which can loosely be grouped under the heading of Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS). Knowledge Intensive Business Services and Regional Competitiveness charts the development of these firms and explores their success through four mutually linked parts: KIBS and industrial dynamics; KIBS and their context; KIBS and their contribution to regional competitiveness and economic development; and finally, KIBS and public policy. This book is suitable for researchers and policy makers interested in the rise of these influential actors and their influence on regional competitiveness.

In the constant challenge economies face to grow and adapt, entrepreneurship and innovation are considered key factors. This impressive book shows the complementary and decisive role that education, access to an efficient financial system, and regulation may have in creating an entrepreneurial society. Not only growth, but also better growth is required to address the tremendous challenges that European economies are facing. The contributors illustrate how more entrepreneurs and more new innovative entrepreneurial firms can contribute. They highlight a variety of factors that may be considered to promote entrepreneurship among young people, and innovative activities among firms. These include education and seeking the most favorable context for the creation and development of sustainable, innovative companies, especially during economic crises. This timely book analyzes the built economy in education, sustainability and regulation to favor the emergence of new, entrepreneurial firms. With an international focus, the book provides the results of numerous research projects around entrepreneurship. Based on solid quantitative analysis, it will prove essential for students and researchers who are building quantitative models to study different aspects of the entrepreneurial society. Contributors: A. Aragon Sanchez, M. Aubry, F. Bastie, D. Bogenhold, J. Bonnet, T. Brau, A.J. Briones Penalver, L. Carvalho, S. Cieply, T. Costa, P. Cussy, E. de Morais Sarmento, M. Dejardin, M. del Carmen Martinez Serna, U. Fachinger, M.P. Garcia, D. Garcia Perez de Lema, A. Garcia Sanchez, P. Gutierrez, G.M. Guzman, R. Harris, G. Hernandez-Canovas, A. Jacquemin, F. Janssen, A. Lanero, X. Li, A. Madrid-Guijarro, M. Mate-Sanchez-Val, I.P. Monteiro, A. Nunes, G. Oliveras, E. Papaoikonomou, J.A. Porras, M.C. Ramon-Llorens, A. Rubio Banon, A. Sanchez Ceron, P. Sastre Vivaracho, P. Segarra, F.C. Sousa, J.L. Vazquez, H.P. Vigier

Research interest in the service sector has boomed in recent years as deindustrialisation became entrenched. Instead of being regarded as merely supplementary to traditional industry and manufacturing, services have generated progressively rising levels of growth in developed economies while at the same time coming to be recognised as major drivers of innovation. Among the factors which have helped service companies notch up swifter growth rates than all other sectors are the outsourcing of such services by other sectors, including the development of information and communication technologies, and changes to the regulatory, legal and market frameworks as well as globalisation and internationalisation. The result is a cluster of highly innovative firms which can loosely be grouped under the heading of Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS). Knowledge Intensive Business Services and Regional Competitiveness charts the development of these firms and explores their success through four mutually linked parts: KIBS and industrial dynamics; KIBS and their context; KIBS and their contribution to regional competitiveness and economic development; and finally, KIBS and public policy. This book is suitable for researchers and policy makers interested in the rise of these influential actors and their influence on regional competitiveness.

This book presents the current state-of-the-art in all major and upcoming areas of entrepreneurship research. Thousands of scholars around the world are currently working to broaden our understanding of the entrepreneurial phenomenon. The disciplines involved are numerous, as are the topics of interest, with substantial efforts to enhance the existing knowledge. This book is specifically designed to facilitate high-level, high-intensity discussions and fruitful exchanges between scholars involved in entrepreneurship research. The articles address a variety of topics ranging from self-employment, technology, growth patterns and job creation, and success and failure rates, to historical, conceptual and comparative international approaches. "This book takes entrepreneurship beyond the individual, size of the venture, entrepreneurial personality, and looks at entrepreneurship as a long term complex process that is heterogeneous, content dependent with an emphasis on innovation and growth. A must read for individuals interested in entrepreneurship, today and in the future, on a domestic and global basis." - Robert D. Hisrich, Director - Walker Center and Garvin Professor of Global Entrepreneurship, Thunderbird School of Global Management "Entrepreneurship is perhaps not just the most multifaceted but also the most important concept of the modern socio-economic disciplines. This book makes an invaluable contribution in this fascinating area: it presents a multifaceted socio-economic examination of the impact of entrepreneurship for growth." - Roy Thurik, Erasmus School of Economics in Rotterdam and Montpellier Business School