Entrepreneurship: Perspectives on Theory Building

The phenomenon of entrepreneurship has been studied for over 200 years, but only recently has a theoretical framework begun to emerge. Building on Schumpeter's definition of the entrepreneur as one who "creates value by carrying out new combinations causing discontinuity", the authors of this volume take a step forward in the continuing effort to generate an integrated theory of entrepreneurship. In the process, they also do much to promote a more holistic view of entrepreneurial firms and their dynamics than has been the case in previous studies. The book is cast in the form of debate, each of the main papers being followed by an extended comment from another leading researcher in the author's field. Contributions across a variety of disciplines create new and fruitful theoretical perspectives which should enrich research in entrepreneurship.