Entrepreneurship and Community: The Next Frontier of Entrepreneurship Inquiry

In this article, the authors examine the existing literature addressing the relationship between entrepreneurship and the community and conclude that this is an important, yet relatively neglected, topic. The article begins by defining the terms “community,” “entrepreneurship,” and the nexus of the two: “community development.” It then proceeds to explore what the current literature tells us about the interaction between these elements, touching upon issues of individualism vs. community, social capital building, productive and unproductive interaction, community culture, leadership, community entrepreneurship, and family venturing, among others. The article concludes with a set of observations about the types of research needed to fill gaps in our understanding of this delicate and vital relationship.