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Places are not like people: the perils of anthropomorphism within entrepreneurial ecosystems research

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  • Ross Brown
  • Suzanne Mawson
  • Augusto Rocha

Abstract

The concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) has quickly established itself as a major focus within regional development research. A key conceptual framing commonly adopted by scholars theorizing about the growth and evolutionary dynamics of EEs is via anthropomorphized life-cycle models. In this article we offer a critique and argumentation as to why the validity of this approach is spurious and contestable. Arguably, life-cycle-based models overly simplify these complex spatial entrepreneurial phenomena and convey the temporal evolution of EEs as a simplistic, linear, deterministic and path-dependent process. Despite the seductively simplistic appeal of life-cycle models, places are not like people and the uncritical adoption of such crude anthropomorphic framings potentially weakens this research field, at the same time as running the risk of misinforming policymakers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ross Brown & Suzanne Mawson & Augusto Rocha, 2023. "Places are not like people: the perils of anthropomorphism within entrepreneurial ecosystems research," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(2), pages 384-396, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:57:y:2023:i:2:p:384-396
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2022.2135698
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandro Giannozzi & Marco Balzano & Alessandro Magrini & Giacomo Marzi, 2026. "The entrepreneur and the ecosystem: extending and operationalizing EE theory from an embeddedness perspective," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 172-198, February.
    2. Napoli, Pedro Henrique & Fischer, Bruno Brandão & Moraes, Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de, 2025. "Entrepreneurial agency reloaded: Intentions, capabilities and the dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystems," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    3. Aki Harima & Jan Harima & Jörg Freiling, 2024. "Ecosystem Orchestration: Unpacking the Leadership Capabilities of Anchor Organizations in Nascent Entrepreneurial Ecosystems," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 48(6), pages 1404-1450, November.
    4. Marc Cowling & Ross Brown & Huan Yang, 2026. "Traversing the multiple nested geographies of NUTs based entrepreneurial ecosystems," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 98-124, February.
    5. Hess, Sophia & Wurth, Bernd & Stam, Erik & Giones, Ferran & Fini, Riccardo & Cavallo, Angelo & Wahl, Andreas & Bosma, Niels & Theodoraki, Christina & Chabaud, Didier & Brem, Alexander & Kuckertz, Andr, 2025. "The future of entrepreneurial ecosystems research: Toward a policy-oriented research agenda," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    6. Matina Magkou, 2024. "A creative hub for creative hubs or the emergence of a translocal entrepreneurial ecosystem for cultural entrepreneurs [Un centro creativo para centros creativos, o la emergencia de un ecosistema emprendedor translocal para emprendedores culturale," Post-Print hal-05026549, HAL.
    7. Stéphanie Eynaud & Alexis Catanzaro & Stéphane Foliard, 2025. "Mixed embeddedness of women student entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurial ecosystem," Post-Print hal-04718297, HAL.
    8. Coad, Alex & Srhoj, Stjepan, 2025. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems and the persistence of regional high-growth firm shares: A reply to van Dijk, Leendertse, Stam, and van Rijnsoever (2025)," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(10).
    9. Bruno Brandão Fischer & André Cherubini Alves & Nicholas S. Vonortas & Ross Brown, 2026. "Foundations of entrepreneurial ecosystems configurations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 199-225, February.
    10. Ross Brown & Augusto Rocha & Haoran Sun & Marc Cowling, 2025. "Unpacking the money-distance nexus: mapping the spatial configuration of exogenous entrepreneurial finance across UK entrepreneurial ecosystems," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 65(3), pages 1501-1515, October.
    11. Wurth, Bernd & Mawson, Suzanne, 2024. "Beyond words: How visual imagery shapes collaborative sensemaking in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).

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