This is a guide to understanding entrepreneurial ecosystems: what they are, why they matter, and to whom they matter. Ben Spigel explores this popular new theory of economic development, locating the intellectual roots of ecosystems, explaining the practices and processes that allow ecosystems to support the creation and growth of innovative entrepreneurial firms.

Investigating why some places are able to support innovative, high-growth entrepreneurship while others cannot, this book looks at the characteristics of entrepreneurial places in both developed and developing countries to identify the role of factors such as culture, social networks and economic history. Going beyond just the different combinations of different people and factors of a place, Spigel explores the social and economic processes such as learning and entrepreneurial recycling that power how ecosystems develop and influence high-growth venture creation.

Entrepreneurship and economic geography scholars will appreciate the strong theoretical exploration of this new approach to understanding entrepreneurship. It will also be a helpful read for public officials, policy makers, and ecosystems builders looking to delve further into this prominent new concept in local economic development policy.

About the Author
Ben Spigel, Chancellor's Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, University of Edinburgh Business School, UK

Reviews
'Spigel's insight has paved the way for advancing knowledge on entrepreneurial ecosystems - a dynamic and interdisciplinary field that will continue evolving and expanding its research scopes and depths.' -- Li-Chun Lin, International Journal of Sustainable Society
'With rapid digitalisation of the economy, entrepreneurial ecosystems have emerged as a novel cluster type to support the start-up and scale-up of new entrepreneurial ventures. This development creates important challenges for policy and practice. Ben Spigel's book provides a timely account of this evolving phenomenon.'
--Erkko Autio, Imperial College London, UK

'Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Theory, Practice and Futures is a much needed introduction to the main ideas of the emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem approach. It provides an excellent stock taking of the academic literature on entrepreneurial ecosystem, by one of its leading intellectuals.'
--Erik Stam, Utrecht University School of Economics, the Netherlands

'Ben Spigel has moved our collective thinking about entrepreneurship ecosystems a big step forward with his new book, which should be read by all who consider themselves entrepreneurship ecosystems practitioners or entrepreneurship policy makers.'
--Daniel Isenberg, Columbia Business School, US



Book Information
ISBN 9781800379480
Author Ben Spigel
Format Paperback
Page Count 200
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd