The Entrepreneur : The Economic Function of Free Enterprise

The concept of the entrepreneur as a driver of innovation and a creator of wealth and employment has evolved over centuries, through theories which are outlined in this book and analyzed within their historical context. Economists such as Cantillon, Say, Schumpeter, Audretsch, Casson and Baumol have studied the phenomenon of the entrepreneur since the 18th Century. The role it plays within society evolves with and thus reflects the economic conditions of the time. As a response to cope with rising unemployment and a driver of technical, organizational and social innovation, entrepreneurship has again become increasingly popular in industrialized and also in developing counties during recent decades. Today, the entrepreneur creates new forms of employability and innovation, and is a key figure in economic revival and growth. This book offers a comprehensive exploration into the etymological and conceptual origins of the entrepreneur, its historical and modern definitions, its socio-economic functions and related social and economic theories, allowing readers to gain a thorough understanding of this iconic figure. Book jacket.