COVID-19 and public policy and entrepreneurship: future research directions

Purpose - Public policy has been an integral part of the response mechanisms used to manage the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, greater attention has been placed on policy planners in terms of how they can enact entrepreneurial ideas that help to alleviate the turmoil surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, the crisis management literature is utilised as a way of understanding future research directions regarding entrepreneurial behaviour in the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach - A review of the existing research on crisis management is conducted with the aim of identifying future research trends. Thus, this article will enable a better understanding of potential future research tracks such as (1) the consequences of the crisis, (2) environmental context, (3) empirical advancement and methodological change, (4) entrepreneurial marketing and branding, (5) crisis management, (6) policy and governance and (7) stress and wellbeing. Findings - There a numerous ways research on COVID-19 can make theoretical, empirical and policy advancement. Therefore, an interdisciplinary perspective is required in order to consider alternative points of view regarding the link between COVID-19, entrepreneurship and public policy. Originality/value - The ways research on COVID-19, entrepreneurship and public policy can be advanced are discussed in relation to the identified research tracks but also potential theoretical implications for new research.