Theme
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

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"Salaried wage jobs are the distinguishing feature separating the middle class from the poor in
developing countries (Banerjee and Duflo 2008). Where do salaried wage jobs come from, and
how can small and medium-sized firms create more of them? We review the evidence on
constraints to growth of small and medium enterprises. We first examine evidence on
constraints to capital and skilled labor, firms’ primary inputs to production. We then consider
factors that affect the efficiency with which firms are able to transform inputs into outputs,
focusing on managerial talent. Finally, we look at the importance of linking firms to markets
and the role of demand in generating firm growth. We conclude with a proposal for a research
agenda built around important but unanswered questions. "

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"El Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report señala que, entre los países latinoamericanos, en Guatemala es particularmente común que se perciba el emprendimiento como una buena oportunidad para generar ingresos, y que “cuentan con el conocimiento, las habilidades y la experiencia necesarias para empezar un negocio, además de tener la menor proporción de temor al fracaso.” Sin embargo, no es claro qué tan prevalentes son estas
percepciones en áreas urbanas en comparación con áreas rurales."

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"According to a recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report, among Latin American countries Guatemalans are particularly likely to view entrepreneurship as a good opportunity to generate income. This report also states that the adult population in Guatemala has the right mix of knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to start a business and that few express fear of failure as an impediment to starting a business, relative to individuals in other countries in the region."

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"El emprendimiento se ha visto como una solución para muchos de los desafíos económicos y de desarrollo social que enfrentan los países en desarrollo. Mientras Honduras se queda atrás en algunas áreas clave, incluyendo actitudes, habilidades y aspiraciones de emprendimiento, se está desarrollando ecosistema emprendedor dinámico para ayudar a crecer a las MiPyMes existentes y apoyar el surgimiento de nuevas empresas. Este reporte busca hacer una evaluación de los mecanismos de apoyo actuales dirigidos a las y los emprendedores en zonas rurales en Honduras. Las siguientes secciones ofrecen perspectivas basadas en datos recopilados de organizaciones que apoyan a las y los emprendedores en zonas rurales del país.

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"Entrepreneurship is often touted as a solution to many economic and social development challenges that developing countries face. While Honduras lags in some key areas, including entrepreneurial attitudes, abilities, and aspirations, there is a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem developing to help existing MSMEs thrive and support the development of new ventures. This report aims to take stock of the current support mechanisms directed toward entrepreneurs in rural areas in Honduras. The following sections offer insights based on data collected from organizations that support entrepreneurs in rural areas of the country."

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"A medida que la población rural sigue disminuyendo y el panorama económico del país sigue evolucionando, es importante entender cómo estos cambios afectan a uno de los pilares del empleo y a la actividad económica en la región: las y los emprendedores rurales. Este reporte busca examinar los actuales mecanismos de apoyo dirigidos a las y los emprendedores de las zonas rurales de El Salvador. Las siguientes secciones ofrecen perspectivas basadas en información obtenida de organizaciones que apoyan a las y los emprendedores en zonas rurales del país."

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"As the rural population continues to decline and the country’s economic landscape continues to evolve, it is important to understand how these shifts affect one of the backbones of employment and economic activity in the region – rural entrepreneurs. This report aims to take stock of the current support mechanisms directed toward entrepreneurs in rural areas in El Salvador. The following sections offer insights based on data collected from organizations that support entrepreneurs in rural areas of the country"

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"Entrepreneurial ecosystems have become a prominent concept, yet in its current state, the concept itself represents a paradox. While it draws on a rich intellectual history and provides an opportunity to synthesize different strands of research, it is also under-theorized and the mechanisms that govern ecosystem evolution are not well understood. This paper takes stock of recent advancements in ecosystem scholarship and synthesizes the empirical reality of the causal mechanisms. We use these dynamics to position ecosystems in a broader context, within and beyond the domain of entrepreneurship research, and propose a transdisciplinary research program for ecosystem research and practice."

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"This interactive Guide gives development professionals the necessary theoretical background, concepts, approaches and practical tools to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in developing countries. It is intended to be used as a reference after the professionals have completed their analytical ‘mapping’ of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Guide is supported by examples from GIZ and other programmes, all of which are intended to provide an in-depth understanding of how professionals approach various challenges in different regions and contexts – and since numerous sources of information on how to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems exist, each section of the document provides links to many of these useful sources and to opportunities for personal involvement."

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"Despite the emergence of startup accelerators as venture development organizations (VDOs) to high-growth firms, research has yet to identify where these accelerators fit into the venture development ecosystem. By clarifying and reviewing three different subsystems in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, our paper proposes that as an extension of the current incubation mechanism, accelerators contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem by transforming entrepreneurs and their ventures at early stages. Drawing upon the Pipeline model (Lichtenstein, G. A., and T. S. Lyons. 2006."Managing the community's pipeline of entrepreneurs and enterprises: A new way of thinking about business assets." Economic Development Quarterly 20 (4): 377-386.), we first plot where the accelerator model fits in the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem, and then demonstrate how different types of accelerators help participating entrepreneurs and their ventures progress along the venture development pipeline. Our theoretical approach contributes to both the entrepreneurship ecosystem and the accelerator literature and provides a practical map for both policymakers and early-stage entrepreneurs to manage and utilize their entrepreneurship ecosystem more effectively."

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