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Entrepreneurial ecosystems and public policy in action: a critique of the latest industrial policy blockbuster

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  • Ross Brown
  • Suzanne Mawson

Abstract

Efforts to develop entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) have proliferated in recent years, marking it out as the latest industrial policy ‘blockbuster’. This article reports the findings from the first comprehensive empirical analysis of EE policy approaches. It posits a basic typology of different policy frameworks deployed under the ecosystem rubric. The findings suggest the concept is fraught with conceptual ambiguity and is predominantly (and rather crudely) used to promote ‘more’ entrepreneurship. The research suggests the concept is a ‘messy metaphor’, open to wide-ranging misinterpretation and misuse by policymakers. In terms of recommendations, eradicating network failures, avoiding crude policy isomorphism and tailoring bespoke interventions to the specific nature of EEs are viewed as key policy lessons.

Suggested Citation

  • Ross Brown & Suzanne Mawson, 2019. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems and public policy in action: a critique of the latest industrial policy blockbuster," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 12(3), pages 347-368.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cjrecs:v:12:y:2019:i:3:p:347-368.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ben Spigel, 2022. "Examining the cohesiveness and nestedness entrepreneurial ecosystems: evidence from British FinTechs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1381-1399, December.
    2. Rocha, Augusto & Brown, Ross & Mawson, Suzanne, 2021. "Capturing conversations in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    3. Paige Clayton & Maryann Feldman & Benjamin Montmartin, 2024. "Entrepreneurial finance and regional ecosystem emergence," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1493-1521, April.
    4. Marta Gancarczyk & Marta Najda-Janoszka & Jacek Gancarczyk & Robert Hassink, 2021. "Exploring Regional Innovation Policies and Regional Industrial Transformation from a Co-Evolutionary Perspective: The Case of Małopolska, Poland," PEGIS geo-disc-2021_03, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    5. Bernd Wurth & Erik Stam & Ben Spigel, 2022. "Toward an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research Program," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 729-778, May.
    6. Stephen Mago & Stephan van der Merwe, 2023. "Exploring Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Developed Countries: A Systematic Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    7. Haifeng Qian & Zoltan J. Acs, 2023. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Economic Development Policy," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 37(1), pages 96-102, February.
    8. Jason Spicer & Michelle Zhong, 2022. "Multiple entrepreneurial ecosystems? Worker cooperative development in Toronto and Montréal," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 54(4), pages 611-633, June.
    9. Pillai, Neiil (Nehaal) & Dietlmeier, Simon Frederic & Urmetzer, Florian, 2024. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems as an Enabler of Technological Sovereignty: The Case of the Indian Short Form Video Market," MPRA Paper 120620, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Mungila Hillemane Bala Subrahmanya, 2022. "Competitiveness of High-Tech Start-Ups and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: An Overview," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 1-10, June.
    11. Loretta Huszák & Tim Gittins, 2022. "Understanding the Budapest Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Human Capital Flows and Social Capital Ties," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2022(3), pages 97-125.
    12. Rolf Sternberg, 2022. "Entrepreneurship and geography—some thoughts about a complex relationship," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(3), pages 559-584, December.
    13. Coad, Alex & Srhoj, Stjepan, 2023. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems and regional persistence of high growth firms: A ‘broken clock’ critique," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    14. Maksim Belitski & Ana-Maria Grigore & Anca Bratu, 2021. "Political entrepreneurship: entrepreneurship ecosystem perspective," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1973-2004, December.
    15. Martin Hemmert & Adam R. Cross & Ying Cheng & Jae-Jin Kim & Masahiro Kotosaka & Franz Waldenberger & Leven J. Zheng, 2022. "New venture entrepreneurship and context in East Asia: a systematic literature review," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(5), pages 831-865, November.
    16. Ganira Ibrahimova & Petra Moog, 2023. "Colonialism versus independence—the role of entrepreneurial ecosystems in Azerbaijan over time," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 1289-1336, October.
    17. Ana Joana Fernandes & Joao J. Ferreira, 2022. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks: a literature review and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 189-247, January.
    18. Catala, Belen & Savall, Teresa & Chaves-Avila, Rafael, 2023. "From entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems to the social economy ecosystem," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    19. Rocha, Augusto & Brown, Ross & Mawson, Suzanne, 2022. "Reprint of: Capturing conversations in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(9).
    20. Larissa Oliveira‐Duarte & Diane Aparecida Reis & Andre Leme Fleury & Rosana Aparecida Vasques & Homero Fonseca Filho & Mikko Koria & Julia Baruque‐Ramos, 2021. "Innovation Ecosystem framework directed to Sustainable Development Goal #17 partnerships implementation," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(5), pages 1018-1036, September.
    21. Hongqi Wang & Tianyi Zhao & Sarah Y. Cooper & Shanshan Wang & Richard T. Harrison & Zhongji Yang, 2023. "Effective policy mixes in entrepreneurial ecosystems: a configurational analysis in China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1509-1542, April.
    22. Hannigan, Timothy R. & Briggs, Anthony R. & Valadao, Rodrigo & Seidel, Marc-David L. & Jennings, P. Devereaux, 2022. "A new tool for policymakers: Mapping cultural possibilities in an emerging AI entrepreneurial ecosystem," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(9).
    23. Francesco Ceresia & Claudio Mendola, 2019. "The Effects of Corruption in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems on Entrepreneurial Intentions," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, November.

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