Title: Entrepreneurship and development in Asia

Authors: James Richardson

Addresses: College of Business Administration, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2404 Maile Way, Honolulu HI 96828, USA

Abstract: Both theory and evidence suggest that entrepreneurial activity can be a source of job creation and economic growth. Governments and international development organisations have initiated numerous programmes to stimulate and support entrepreneurs in both developing and developed countries of Asia. Many such programmes are focused on the very poor. Large public and private investments have been made. This paper reviews some of the theory and evidence about the role of entrepreneurial activity in economic development and poverty alleviation. The relationship is shown to be complex – entrepreneurial activity appears to be neither necessary nor sufficient for economic development to occur. Possible explanations of the role of entrepreneurship in economic development are discussed to suggest future research.

Keywords: entrepreneurial activity; economic growth; development; poverty alleviation; Asia; entrepreneurship; job creation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2004.005755

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2004 Vol.4 No.5, pp.469 - 484

Published online: 30 Nov 2004 *

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