Call for Papers - International Entrepreneurship

SPECIAL ISSUE: International Entrepreneurship: Do Institutions Matter?

Guest Editors:
David Ahlstrom – Chinese University Hong Kong - ahlstrom@baf.msmail.cuhk.edu.hk
Garry D. Bruton – Texas Christian University - g.bruton@tcu.edu
Hanlin Li - National Chiao Tung University Taiwan - hlli@cc.nctu.edu.tw
Executive Editor: Ray Bagby

A common theoretical lens used in international entrepreneurship research is institutional theory. However, too often researchers default to institutional explanations when they find differences internationally from the existing research on North America without a clear rationale as to whether the result is actually due to institutional differences. In addition, the institutions cited as the cause of the outcome typically are those associated with culture. But it is not clear if this is just an easy answer to what are in fact very complex issues, or an accurate reflection of international entrepreneurship.

If international entrepreneurship research is to move forward, a better understanding and foundation for international research must be developed and elaborated. This special issue will help build that foundation as the role of institutions and their impact in entrepreneurship is explored.

The special issue encourages the examination of a rich set of issues associated with institutional theory. For example, the most commonly used model by researchers is Scott's (2001) formulation of institutional theory. However, some applications of this model even in leading journals are somewhat unusual. In addition, in sociology this model is somewhat controversial. Other, slightly different, formulations exist in economics (e.g. North, 1990, 2005) and political science (Patriotta & Lanzara, 2006). Therefore, the special issue encourages the use and integration of different institutional views. In addition, the special issue encourages researches to focus on a richer set of institutions than culture. For example, very little research has examined the role of legal institutions in entrepreneurship research.

The special issue also encourages researchers to methodologically examine institutional theory in a better manner. Too often researchers have indicated that there is an institutional impact based on single country studies. The special issue is particularly encouraging research which seeks to understand international entrepreneurship and apply institutional theory through studies of multiple nations.

This special issue will also encourage authors to examine the role of institutions in developed economies like those of the United States, Canada, and Europe. It is surprising, but rarely has previous research examined the impact of institutions in shaping entrepreneurial actions in developed economies. If institutions have the explanatory power indicated, it would imply that researchers in these developed economies should be including institutions in their research in a manner no differently than if they were examining a topic in China or India.

The topics that articles could address include but are not limited to:

• Is there evidence of institutional theory impact across different countries?

• Typically institutions are not assumed by researchers to impact entrepreneurship in the United States or Europe; at least they seldom control for such an impact. Is this an appropriate assumption as we add more global emphasis to our research?

• How do different institutions impact entrepreneurial actions? Prior research has focused on the impact of culture but there is some evidence of the impact of other institutions. What is the impact of these institutions? How can researchers segment out that impact?

• How do we define institutional theory? The most widely used classification is that by Scott, but this classification is not with out controversy. What is the impact of these different views of institutional theory?

• How do related disciplines, such as economics and sociology, employ institutional theory and what can we learn from them?

This special issue will not go forward with a preconceived notion of what the answers to these debates are. Thus, it is expected that articles from different perspectives including opposing views will be involved. However, it is expected that empirically based articles will need to have data from multiple nations to support their argument.

Papers that receive a revise and resubmit will in turn be invited to a special conference at Northeastern University in Boston to be held October 11-12, 2008 in which they will have the opportunity to present and receive feedback on their papers as they move them toward publication in May 2010. Manuscripts should be submitted in ET&P format to Manuscript Central not later than May 15, 2008. Authors must specify that the submission is for the special issue on International Entrepreneurship.

If questions contact:

Special Issue Editors
David Ahlstrom – Chinese University Hong Kong - ahlstrom@baf.msmail.cuhk.edu.hk
Garry D. Bruton – Texas Christian University - g.bruton@tcu.edu
Hanlin Li - National Chiao Tung University Taiwan - hlli@cc.nctu.edu.tw

Conference Coordinators
Sheila Puffer – Northeastern University - s.puffer@neu.edu
Dan McCarthy – Northeastern University - da.mccarthy@neu.edu

Anne Merchant

Editorial Assistant

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice Journal

Baylor University    

Waco, TX  76798

(254) 710-4290