IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/intemj/v20y2024i1d10.1007_s11365-023-00916-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do entrepreneurial ecosystems foster sustainable development?

Author

Listed:
  • David B. Audretsch

    (Indiana University
    University of Klagenfurt)

  • Hector Rocha

    (Austral University)

  • Sourabh Aggarwal

    (Austral University)

  • Agustin Bramanti

    (Austral University)

Abstract

Research and policy on sustainable development (SD) and entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE), the most prevalent policy to enhance entrepreneurship, has increased dramatically in the last 20 years; in particular. Yet, as this paper shows, their relationship is unknown to date. We aim to answer if and how entrepreneurial ecosystems foster sustainable development. To this purpose, we develop a framework linking EE and SD integrating existing models and suggestions for further research and policymaking. Theoretically, we draw on three different disciplines and four distinct theories to propose how and why EE impact SD. Methodologically, we suggest system dynamics as the most appropriate method for theoretical modeling and empirical analysis. Policywise, we suggest how and why policy needs a new approach to leverage EE to enhance SD.

Suggested Citation

  • David B. Audretsch & Hector Rocha & Sourabh Aggarwal & Agustin Bramanti, 2024. "Do entrepreneurial ecosystems foster sustainable development?," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-37, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:intemj:v:20:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s11365-023-00916-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11365-023-00916-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11365-023-00916-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11365-023-00916-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jasna Pocek, 2022. "Tendencies towards integration and disintegration of the entrepreneurial ecosystem: an institution-based view of the dynamics," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(12), pages 2575-2594, December.
    2. Aveline Cloitre & Victor dos Santos Paulino & Christina Theodoraki, 2022. "The quadruple/quintuple helix model in entrepreneurial ecosystems: an institutional perspective on the space case study," Post-Print hal-04676722, HAL.
    3. Sara Moggi, 2023. "Sustainability reporting, universities and global reporting initiative applicability: a still open issue," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(4), pages 699-742, May.
    4. McMullen, Jeffery S., 2018. "Organizational hybrids as biological hybrids: Insights for research on the relationship between social enterprise and the entrepreneurial ecosystem," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 575-590.
    5. Dorado, Silvia & Ventresca, Marc J., 2013. "Crescive entrepreneurship in complex social problems: Institutional conditions for entrepreneurial engagement," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 69-82.
    6. Philip McCann & Raquel Ortega-Argil�s, 2015. "Smart Specialization, Regional Growth and Applications to European Union Cohesion Policy," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(8), pages 1291-1302, August.
    7. David Urbano & David Audretsch & Sebastian Aparicio & Maria Noguera, 2020. "Does entrepreneurial activity matter for economic growth in developing countries? The role of the institutional environment," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 1065-1099, September.
    8. Erik Stam, 2015. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Regional Policy: A Sympathetic Critique," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(9), pages 1759-1769, September.
    9. Hector Rocha & Martin Kunc & David B. Audretsch, 2020. "Clusters, economic performance, and social cohesion: a system dynamics approach," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(8), pages 1098-1111, July.
    10. Bernd Wurth & Erik Stam & Ben Spigel, 2022. "Toward an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research Program," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 729-778, May.
    11. William Nordhaus, 2018. "Projections and Uncertainties about Climate Change in an Era of Minimal Climate Policies," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 10(3), pages 333-360, August.
    12. Gordon Redding, 2005. "The thick description and comparison of societal systems of capitalism," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 36(2), pages 123-155, March.
    13. Christine Volkmann & Klaus Fichter & Magnus Klofsten & David B. Audretsch, 2021. "Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an emerging field of research," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1047-1055, February.
    14. Bengt-ake Lundvall & Bjorn Johnson, 1994. "The Learning Economy," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(2), pages 23-42.
    15. Susanne Pankov & Vivek K. Velamuri & Dirk Schneckenberg, 2021. "Towards sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: examining the effect of contextual factors on sustainable entrepreneurial activities in the sharing economy," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1073-1095, February.
    16. Sonja Sperber & Christian Linder, 2019. "Gender-specifics in start-up strategies and the role of the entrepreneurial ecosystem," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 533-546, August.
    17. Gideon D. Markman & Peter Gianiodis & G. Tyge Payne & Christopher Tucci & Igor Filatotchev & Reddi Kotha & Eric Gedajlovic, 2019. "The Who, Where, What, How and When of Market Entry," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(7), pages 1241-1259, November.
    18. Ugo Fratesi, 2015. "Regional Knowledge Flows and Innovation Policy: A Dynamic Representation," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(11), pages 1859-1872, November.
    19. Walter Isard, 1956. "Regional Science, The Concept Of Region, And Regional Structure," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(1), pages 13-26, January.
    20. Krugman, Paul, 1991. "Increasing Returns and Economic Geography," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(3), pages 483-499, June.
    21. Maura McAdam & Richard T. Harrison & Claire M. Leitch, 2019. "Stories from the field: women’s networking as gender capital in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 459-474, August.
    22. Theodoraki, Christina & Dana, Léo-Paul & Caputo, Andrea, 2022. "Building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: A holistic approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 346-360.
    23. Sascha Kraus & Matthias Breier & Sonia Dasí-Rodríguez, 2020. "The art of crafting a systematic literature review in entrepreneurship research," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 1023-1042, September.
    24. Diana M. Hechavarría & Amy E. Ingram, 2019. "Entrepreneurial ecosystem conditions and gendered national-level entrepreneurial activity: a 14-year panel study of GEM," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 431-458, August.
    25. Elias G. Carayannis & Luca Dezi & Gianluca Gregori & Ernesto Calo, 2022. "Smart Environments and Techno-centric and Human-Centric Innovations for Industry and Society 5.0: A Quintuple Helix Innovation System View Towards Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Solutions," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 926-955, June.
    26. Per Davidsson & Johan Wiklund, 2001. "Levels of Analysis in Entrepreneurship Research: Current Research Practice and Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 25(4), pages 81-100, July.
    27. Lori DiVito & Zita Ingen-Housz, 2021. "From individual sustainability orientations to collective sustainability innovation and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1057-1072, February.
    28. Baumol, William J., 1993. "Formal entrepreneurship theory in economics: Existence and bounds," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 197-210, May.
    29. van Rijnsoever, Frank J., 2022. "Intermediaries for the greater good: How entrepreneurial support organizations can embed constrained sustainable development startups in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(2).
    30. David Bruce Audretsch & Maksim Belitski & Nataliia Cherkas, 2021. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems in cities: The role of institutions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, March.
    31. Nadine Massard & Corinne Autant-Bernard, 2015. "Editorial. Geography of innovation: new trends and implications for public policy renewal," Post-Print hal-01220056, HAL.
    32. Leendertse, Jip & Schrijvers, Mirella & Stam, Erik, 2022. "Measure Twice, Cut Once: Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Metrics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(9).
    33. Bruton, Garry D. & Ketchen, David J. & Ireland, R. Duane, 2013. "Entrepreneurship as a solution to poverty," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 683-689.
    34. Bertello, Alberto & Battisti, Enrico & De Bernardi, Paola & Bresciani, Stefano, 2022. "An integrative framework of knowledge-intensive and sustainable entrepreneurship in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 683-693.
    35. Saras D. Sarasvathy & Sankaran Venkataraman, 2011. "Entrepreneurship as Method: Open Questions for an Entrepreneurial Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(1), pages 113-135, January.
    36. Sharon A. Simmons & Johan Wiklund & Jonathan Levie & Steve W. Bradley & Sanwar A. Sunny, 2019. "Gender gaps and reentry into entrepreneurial ecosystems after business failure," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 517-531, August.
    37. Kathrin Bischoff, 2021. "A study on the perceived strength of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems on the dimensions of stakeholder theory and culture," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1121-1140, February.
    38. Gregory O’Shea & Steffen Farny & Henri Hakala, 2021. "The buzz before business: a design science study of a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1097-1120, February.
    39. Nadine Massard & Corinne Autant-Bernard, 2015. "Editorial: Geography of Innovation: New Trends and Implications for Public Policy Renewal," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(11), pages 1767-1771, November.
    40. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley, 2015. "On the notion of regional economic resilience: conceptualization and explanation," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 1-42.
    41. Zhao, Xin & Shang, Yuping & Song, Malin, 2020. "Industrial structure distortion and urban ecological efficiency from the perspective of green entrepreneurial ecosystems," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    42. Susanne Pankov & Vivek Velamuri & Dirk Schneckenberg, 2021. "Towards sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: examining the effect of contextual factors on sustainable entrepreneurial activities in the sharing economy," Post-Print hal-03182916, HAL.
    43. Christina Theodoraki & Léo-Paul Dana & Andrea Caputo, 2022. "Building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: A holistic approach," Post-Print hal-04676716, HAL.
    44. Enrico Moretti, 2021. "The Effect of High-Tech Clusters on the Productivity of Top Inventors," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(10), pages 3328-3375, October.
    45. Christina Theodoraki & Alexis Catanzaro, 2022. "Widening the borders of entrepreneurial ecosystem through the international lens," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 383-406, April.
    46. Johan Wiklund & Per Davidsson & David B. Audretsch & Charlie Karlsson, 2011. "The Future of Entrepreneurship Research," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(1), pages 1-9, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Darek M. Haftor & Ricardo Costa Climent & Andreas Kallmuenzer, 2025. "Business ecosystems as a way to activate lock-in in business models: a theoretical integration," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-22, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Theodoraki, Christina & Dana, Léo-Paul & Caputo, Andrea, 2022. "Building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: A holistic approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 346-360.
    2. Blom Meijering, 2025. "Cycling as Critical Infrastructure for Green Start-Ups: A Multilevel Analysis in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Jantos, Louisa & Bäumle, Philipp & Feser, Daniel, 2024. "Removing barriers for sustainability: A qualitative cross-country analysis of entrepreneurial ecosystem attributes in Israel and Germany," ifh Working Papers 44/2024, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    4. Sanjay Chaudhary & Puneet Kaur & Hind Alofaysan & Jantje Halberstadt & Amandeep Dhir, 2023. "Connecting the dots? Entrepreneurial ecosystems and sustainable entrepreneurship as pathways to sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5935-5951, December.
    5. Aftab Alam & Bhaskar Bhowmick, 2023. "Examining the domains of entrepreneurial ecosystem framework—a bibliometric analysis," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Elisabeth S. C. Berger & Christine Blanka, 2024. "Comprehensive and multifaceted perspectives on sustainability, urban studies, and entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 471-501, February.
    7. Indu Khurana & Dev K. Dutta, 2024. "From place to space: the emergence and evolution of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in smart cities," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 541-569, February.
    8. Audretsch, David B. & Fiedler, Antje & Fath, Benjamin & Verreynne, Martie-Louise, 2024. "The dawn of geographically unbounded entrepreneurial ecosystems," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    9. Mariana Pita & Joana Costa & António Carrizo Moreira, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Entrepreneurial Initiative: Building a Multi-Country Taxonomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-26, April.
    10. Chaudhary, Sanjay & Kaur, Puneet & Ferraris, Alberto & Bresciani, Stefano & Dhir, Amandeep, 2024. "Connecting entrepreneurial ecosystem and innovation. Grasping at straws or hitting a home run?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Bernd Wurth & Erik Stam & Ben Spigel, 2022. "Toward an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research Program," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 729-778, May.
    12. Ameer, Farah & Khan, Naveed R., 2023. "Green entrepreneurial orientation and corporate environmental performance: A systematic literature review," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 755-778.
    13. Colin Donaldson & Robert Newbery & Jasmina Berbegal Mirabent & Andreas Kallmuenzer, 2025. "Decoding value exchange in entrepreneurial ecosystems through a service-dominant lens," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(3), pages 1057-1081, March.
    14. Alejandro Almeida & Antonio A. Golpe & Juan Manuel Martín-Álvarez & Jose Carlos Vides, 2025. "New England’s Pinnacle: fostering quality entrepreneurial ecosystems," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 15(1), pages 243-271, March.
    15. Sara Moggi & Paul Pierce & Nicole Bernardi, 2022. "From sustainability to thrivability: A novel framework for entrepreneurial ecosystems," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 829-853, June.
    16. Allison L. Ricket & G. Jason Jolley & Faith Beale Knutsen & Sarah C. Davis, 2023. "Rural Sustainable Prosperity: Social Enterprise Ecosystems as a Framework for Sustainable Rural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    17. Jeffrey Muldoon & Younggeun Lee & Eric W. Liguori & Saumyaranjan Sahoo & Satish Kumar, 2024. "Mapping the entrepreneurship ecosystem scholarship: current state and future directions," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 3035-3080, December.
    18. Roundy, Philip T. & Randy Evans, W., 2024. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems as multiteam systems: Navigating independence and interdependence in the leadership of startup communities," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    19. Schäfer, Susann & Fischer, Bruno & Rücker Schaeffer, Paola & Balestrin, Alsones, 2024. "Beyond local boundaries: Unraveling the spatiality of entrepreneurial ecosystems," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    20. Schuster, Charlotte Leonie, 2013. "Entrepreneurship - Methodische Herausforderungen einer jungen Forschungsdisziplin [Entrepreneurship - Methodological challenges of a young research discipline]," MPRA Paper 45472, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:intemj:v:20:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s11365-023-00916-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.