Social Entrepreneurship: Why We Don't Need a New Theory and How We Move Forward From Here
Abstract
Executive Overview We examine the current state of the social entrepreneurship literature, asking what is unique about social entrepreneurship and what avenues create opportunities for the future of the field. After an evaluation of social entrepreneurship definitions and comparison of social entrepreneurship to other forms, we conclude that while it is not a distinct type of entrepreneurship, researchers stand to benefit most from further research on social entrepreneurship as a context in which established types of entrepreneurs operate. We demonstrate these opportunities by describing avenues for further inquiry that emerge when examining valuable assumptions and insights from existing theories inherent in conventional, cultural, and institutional entrepreneurship frameworks and integrating these insights in ways that address the unique phenomena that exist in the context of social entrepreneurship.
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Social entrepreneurship scholars are broadly unified in defining social entrepreneurs as prioritising social (or environmental) value creation goals over economic ones.
“Social entrepreneurship scholars are broadly unified, however, in defining social entrepreneurs as prioritising social (or environmental) value creation goals over economic ones (Bacq and Janssen, 2011;Dacin et al., 2010;Mair and Marti, 2006;Saebi et al., 2019;Ter an-Y epez et al., 2020;Zahra et al., 2009).”
From Sustainability startups and where to find them: Investigating the share of sustainability startups across entrepreneurial ecosystems and the causal drivers of differences (2021) · cites this paper as Dacin et al., 2010
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Gauging the success of social ventures initiated by individual social entrepreneurs
Sharir, M., & Lerner, M. (2006) · Journal of World Business · doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2005.09.004 · Cited by 664 · see citing works
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Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions
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- Authors
- Dacin, P. A., Dacin, M. T., & Matear, M.
- Affiliations
- Queen's University (CA)
- ORCID
- Dacin, M. Tina
- Venue
- Academy of Management Perspectives
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 2010-08-01
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 37-57
- ISSN
- 1558-9080 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2109696274
- Cited by
- 1,527
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 39 · 2025: 81 · 2024: 109 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 115 · 2021: 150 · 2020: 147 · 2019: 126 · 2018: 129 · 2017: 116 · 2016: 104 · 2015: 79 · 2014: 91 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 62
- FWCI
- 95.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Perspectives (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management of Technology and Innovation › Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Finance › Community Development and Social Impact
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Business and International Management › Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
- Keywords
- social entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship theory, cultural entrepreneurship, institutional entrepreneurship, theoretical integration
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