The entrepreneurial role in 19th century in Croatia: possibilities of using the literary narrative

ABSTRACT IN CROATIAN: Svrha clanka je istraziti mogucnosti koristenja narativne fikcije u razumijevanja uloge poduzetnika u Hrvatskoj u drugoj polovici 19. stoljeca. Teorijska polazista nalaze se u integriranoj teoriji poduzetnistva, institucionalnoj teoriji i teoriji knjizevnosti. Na temelju postojecih znanstvenih radova hrvatskih autora odreduju se osnovni atributi poduzetnika i temeljne karakteristike poduzetnistva u vrijeme nastanka modernoga gradanskog drustva i trzisnog gospodarstva u Hrvatskoj. Kao komplementarni alat u analizi poduzetnicke uloge koristi se knjizevni narativ, roman Melita hrvatskog knjizevnika Josipa Eugena Tomica. Pomocu tehnika eksplikacije i eksplanacije analizira se i interpretira uloga hrvatskog institucionalnog poduzetnika kao nositelja ekonomskih i drustvenih promjena. Analiza teksta upucuje na nedostatak poduzetnickog kapaciteta, ali i na napredak drustva i ekonomije unatoc oskudnosti poduzetnickog i financijskog kapitala, sto odgovara nalazima hrvatskih povjesnicara. // ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH: The purpose of this paper is to examine the possibilities of narrative fiction use in understanding the entrepreneurial role in Croatia in the second half of the 19th century. We find the theoretical foundations in integrated theory of entrepreneurship, institutional theory and literary theory. On the basis of available scientific works of Croatian authors we detect the main attributes of entrepreneurs and the basic characteristics of entrepreneurship in the period of emergence of modern bourgeois society and market economy in Croatia. As a complementary tool in analysis of entrepreneurial role we use literary narrative, the novel Melita written by Croatian writer Josip Eugen Tomic. By using explication and explanation we make analysis and interpretation of the role of Croatian institutional entrepreneur as a driver of changes in economy and society. Text analysis indicates the lack of entrepreneurial capacity but also a certain progress despite the lack of entrepreneurial and financial capital which corresponds with the findings of Croatian historians. Reprinted by permission of the Croatian Economics Association