ENTREPRENEURSHIP & REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (ERD)
SPECIAL ISSUE: Government policies to support entrepreneurship
GUEST EDITORS: Professors Domingo Ribeiro (*) and Miguel-Angel Galindo Martin (**)
* <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Valencia</st1:placename> **<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Castilla-La</st1:placename></st1:place> Mancha
For this special issue, we invite papers that examine and relate the growing importance of entrepreneurship and the roles and policies of governments.
In the present climate, there is no doubting the underlying and substantial social, cultural and economic benefits of entrepreneurship; a fact that has made governments around the world take an increasingly active role in fostering what seems to be currently regarded as a necessary phenomenon, and one which voters may well take into account at election time. Instilling the entrepreneurial spirit often depends on the political measures put into place. In this sense, policies on economy, taxation, education, legislation, industry, employment, technology, government subsidies may have a marked influence on the processes and outcomes of new and established businesses.
One approach to understanding these influences is Institutional Theory developed by North (1990, 2005): institutions represent the set of rules that articulate and organise economic, social and political interactions between individuals and social groups. These may have important repercussions for business activity and, consequently, for economic growth and development. As a result, it is relevant to examine the role and outcomes of government policies and practices, considering Institutional and Neo-institutional theory. Therefore, institutional theory provides one conceptual base from which to analyse the changes in entrepreneurial activity. But for this special issue, we invite papers that explore the issue from any theoretical perspective.
This Special Issue will examine these aspects of government influence from different viewpoints. We therefore invite empirical studies or theoretical perspectives which will form the central subject matter for this issue. We urge authors to contribute research that makes a significant contribution to theory and practice. Government policies in different economic sectors, in different locations (regional, national or global levels) and involving different practices produce varying types of entrepreneurship support. But many depend on the theories that are applied either explicitly or implicitly. Thus, Institutional and Neo-institutional theory and related accounts, as they apply to entrepreneurship, is a field of research that merits further investigation. We welcome papers that challenge the explanatory power of existing theories as well as those which provide empirical support.
Topics for submissions to the special issue could cover the following areas, though the list is not exclusive:
* Institutional and Neo-institutional theories and entrepreneurship activity.
* How the legislative/regulatory framework affects a nations capacity to instil the entrepreneurial spirit.
* Economic and taxation policies as a means of attracting investment and encouraging entrepreneurship.
* The role of public grants and subsidies to entrepreneurs. Are they just a passing fashion or an opportunity?
* Culture (social values, norms and customs) and the entrepreneurial phenomenon.
* International, national and regional initiatives in the context of entrepreneurship. Indicators and outcomes.
* Policies on university education as a pillar of knowledge for the creation and management of firms.
* Incentives for R&D projects in an entrepreneurial context.
* Tendencies and future challenges for governments and the measures they introduce to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit.
* The evolution of government aid to activities associated with the 21st century entrepreneur.
Researchers interested in publishing in this special issue on Government policies to support entrepreneurship should send the manuscripts to the Guest Editors, Professor Domingo Ribeiro, University of Valencia-Facultad de Economía, email to domingo.ribeiro@uv.es or to Professor Miguel-Angel Galindo, University of Castilla-La Mancha, email to mgalindomar@orange.es. The full paper is due no later than November 30, 2011. Please clearly identify your submission in the email subject line, ERD- Government Policies to Support Entrepreneurship-Special Issue. All papers will go through the regular double-blind review process to ensure its relevance and quality, and must follow ERD Style Guidelines. This special issue will be published in 2012.
REFERENCES
Alston, L.J., Eggertsson, T. and North D.C. 1996 Empirical Studies in Institutional Change (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
Michael, S. C. and Pearce II, J. A. 2009 The need for innovation as a rationale for government involvement in entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development: An International Journal, 21: 285 302.
North, D.C. 1990 Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
North, D.C. 2005 Understanding the Process of Economic Change (Princeton: Princeton
University Press).
Williamson, O. 1985 The Economic Institutions of Capitalism (New York: Free Press).
Zerbinati, S. and Souitaris, V. 2005 Entrepreneurship in the public sector: a framework of analysis in European local governments, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development: An International Journal, 17: 43 64.