Handbook of research on entrepreneurship policy

'This book is a well written and handy source for readers. Additionally, it provides an overview of current issues relevant to the development of entrepreneurial policy, which is based on interesting case studies across a number of nations ...' - Dessy Irawati, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research. 'What is new in the world is the need to understand business dynamics; the entry, exit and growth of firms in the economy. This dynamic firm structure, as opposed to the static firm structure that dominated past thinking, has spurred an outpouring of research. The heart of the issue is that while many have identified the importance of business dynamics (entry and exit) we have only recently taken a closer look at the ecological system in which some companies must die for others to thrive. Entrepreneurs are the predators of this system. Public policy in an entrepreneurial economy (dynamic) must limit the forces that prevent firm exit and foster the forces that promote firm entry. This book makes an important contribution to the debate.' - Zoltán J. Ács, George Mason University, US. This unique Handbook provides a solid foundation for essential study in the nascent field of entrepreneurship policy research. This foundation is initially developed via the exploration of two significant propositions underpinning the nature of entrepreneurship policy research. The first is that entrepreneurship has emerged as a bona fide focus of public policy, particularly with respect to economic growth and employment creation. The second is that neither scholars nor policy makers are presently equipped to understand the public policy role for entrepreneurship. The contributors - experienced scholars, specialist researchers and dynamic policy makers thus grapple with novel questions of considerable policy relevance that few have previously posed. The Handbook therefore provides some of the first crucial, systematic analyses of important issues, and key questions to be raised in order to move entrepreneurship policy forward are also presented. Written by academics and practitioners drawing examples from both North America and Europe, this stimulating new Handbook is a prerequisite for students, scholars and practitioners in the incipient world of entrepreneurship policy