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Small Business Economics

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04-09-2019

Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an emerging field of research

Authors: Christine Volkmann, Klaus Fichter, Magnus Klofsten, David B. Audretsch

Published in: Small Business Economics | Issue 3/2021

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Abstract

While the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems is now a prominent topic and an important stream in entrepreneurship research, the question of how ecosystems can specifically promote sustainable entrepreneurship and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations is a neglected issue. With the papers in this special issue, we address this research gap, serving as a catalyst sparking more research at the nexus of contextualization of entrepreneurship and sustainability. This research has, since the 1990s, developed in three waves; the explicit linkage to SDGs and the investigation of impacts of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems in achieving societal and environmental goals might be considered as the “fourth wave.” We first introduce relevant research streams and concepts for investigating sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. Then, we explain why this special issue and its articles represent a fourth wave in entrepreneurial research (“sustainability”). Thereafter, we provide an overview of the papers of this special issue and then end with a brief consideration of future research demands.

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Title: Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an emerging field of research
Authors: Christine Volkmann
Klaus Fichter
Magnus Klofsten
David B. Audretsch
Publication date: 04-09-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Small Business Economics / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 0921-898X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-0913
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00253-7

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