Title: Social entrepreneurship: an overview of its theoretical evolution and proposed research model

Authors: John O. Okpara, Daphne Halkias

Addresses: College of Business, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, 266 Sutliff Hall, 400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815, USA. ' Center for Family and Youth Enterprise (CYFE), University of Bergamo, Giannitson 11A, Holargos, Athens 15562, Greece

Abstract: Social entrepreneurship is an emerging area of research in the entrepreneurship and related disciplines. Social entrepreneurship is seen as differing from other forms of entrepreneurship because of the higher priority given to promoting social and development economic values. A review of the literature emerging from a number of disciplines reveals that the definition of the concept of social entrepreneurship is fragmented and confusing. Current conceptualisations of social entrepreneurship fail to effectively consider the unique characteristics of social entrepreneurs and the context within which they must operate. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to advance the conceptualisation of the concept by adding some clarity to the debate.

Keywords: social entrepreneurship; theoretical evolution; social values; innovation; social entrepreneurs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSEI.2011.039808

International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2011 Vol.1 No.1, pp.4 - 20

Published online: 20 Apr 2011 *

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