Title: Entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness: what is the connection?

Authors: João J. Ferreira; Cristina I. Fernandes; Vanessa Ratten

Addresses: University of Beira Interior and NECE – Research Unit, Estrada do Sineiro, Polo IV 6200-201 Covilha, Portugal ' Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco and NECE – Research Unit, University of Beira Interior, Portugal ' Department of Management and Marketing, La Trobe Business School, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia

Abstract: Entrepreneurship has attracted growing interest about its role in decision-making policies capable of fostering economic and social development. There has also been an increased attention on how entrepreneurs innovate and in so doing consequently contribute to higher levels of international competitiveness. Following recourse to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and the Global Competitive Index (GCI) data, the objective of this study involves analysis of the interlinkages between three constructs: entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness across the three phases of development defined by the GEM. To this end, we analyse the influence of the entrepreneur profile not only through both their intrinsic and extrinsic knowledge but also through their innovation and competitiveness across the three GEM development phases. The results convey how the importance attributed to entrepreneurship is dependent on the stage of economic development and consequently may reflect in either a positive or negative impact on this same economic growth strategy.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; innovation; competitiveness; entrepreneur profiles; intrinsic knowledge; extrinsic knowledge; economic development; economic growth strategy; Global Entrepreneurship Monitor; GEM; Global Competitive Index; GCI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2017.081030

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2017 Vol.18 No.1, pp.73 - 95

Received: 13 Oct 2015
Accepted: 02 Jan 2016
Published online: 19 Dec 2016 *

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