Abstract
Entrepreneurship is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. Despite extensive research having been conducted since the early 18th century, controversy and debate persist among researchers in relation to fundamental issues, such as the definition of an entrepreneur and the role of entrepreneurship in the economic and social development. Most vividly debated issues include the distinction between “true” entrepreneurs and small business owners, stage of company development and entrepreneurship, overlapping between entrepreneurship, innovation and management, whether one can be entrepreneurial outside the business sector and to what extent entrepreneurial success depends on the personal traits or relevant know-how and skills can be learned. The concept of ambitious entrepreneurship deserves particular attention of policymakers in emerging economies.
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Notes
- 1.
Interpretation of Schumpeter’s ideas about the nature of entrepreneurship and the role of entrepreneurs is not easy, due to the evolution of his views presented in subsequent publications. Given his authority in economics and, more broadly, in social sciences, scholars find it difficult to challenge some of his theses, which clearly have not withstood the test of time. One of Schumpeter’s fallacious assumptions was the opinion that, given the fundamental weakness of capitalism, transition towards a socialist economic model is inevitable. This did not happen.
- 2.
Even a cursory presentation of the latest trends and research findings on personality characteristics of entrepreneurs goes beyond the scope of this work. Readers interested in psychological aspects of entrepreneurship can refer to Baum et al. (2007).
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Cieślik, J. (2017). Essence of Entrepreneurship. In: Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41721-9_2
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