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Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Emergence: A Systematic Literature Review

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  • Dike Ike

Abstract

Sustainable entrepreneurship is an important socio‐economic phenomenon and has been identified as a promising concept to drive a sustainable business paradigm shift. Scholarly interest has increased in recent years; however, there remains a lack of understanding and agreement on the nature of the phenomenon and the future of sustainable entrepreneurship theory. This review evaluates the developing academic literature on sustainable entrepreneurship to better understand its potential and progress. The aim of this review is to offer a conceptual basis that will encourage scholarly discussion and advance our understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship as a distinct sub‐field within entrepreneurship research. I apply boundary concepts to examine 71 sustainable entrepreneurship articles published in major academic journals throughout the evolution of the field. I argue that the constructs of sustainable development opportunities, individuals and teams, and forms of organizing within the context of the larger environmental setting can be used to develop an approach to sustainable entrepreneurship research that better defines the field and strengthens its legitimacy. I define the boundaries of the field of sustainable entrepreneurship using the constructs of sustainable development opportunities, individuals and teams, and forms of organizing within the context of the larger environmental setting. I identify emerging themes in the literature and categorize the themes using the identified constructs. Finally, using the identified boundary constructs and their intersections, I suggest future research directions for theory and methodological development of the field.

Suggested Citation

  • Dike Ike, 2025. "Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Emergence: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(S1), pages 1200-1214, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:s1:p:1200-1214
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70058
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    1. Maiara Lais Marcon & Tais Provensi & Elisete Aparecida Ferreira Stenger & Graciele Tonial & Simone Sehnem, 2026. "Mapping the Uncharted: Theoretical and Methodological Gaps in Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S1), pages 1501-1523, January.
    2. Jacob Hörisch & Maren Fokuhl & Maike Buhr & Petra Dickel, 2026. "From Environmentalist to Ecopreneur? Target Groups and Role Models as Key Elements in Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(1), pages 1129-1140, February.

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