Social Entrepreneurship at the Micro Level: A Study of Botswana

Abstract

The field of Social entrepreneurship is growing at a fast rate today and there is an increased interest in this area of study. This chapter reviews social entrepreneurship, specifically looking at the definition, theories, features, and lessons, based on a case study of Botswana. It adds to the growing literature and the increasing interest in social entrepreneurship, particularly in African countries due to the myriad of socioeconomic development challenges that exist in spite of relatively high gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates. A case study conducted in Botswana is the main data source and the hypotheses are generated from a multitude of theoretical perspectives including public goods theory, contract failure theory, institutional theory, and subsidy theory. From the Botswana case study, we see a positive relationship between government policy support and the prevalence of social entrepreneurship.