Examining entrepreneurship through indigenous lenses

Abstract

This commentary argues that scholars need an alternative to the dominance in academic research of the U.S. model of entrepreneurship to reflect better the variety and diversity of entrepreneurial activities around the globe. Using the example of China, today the world’s second-largest economy, we discuss how researchers miss key elements of entrepreneurship because of their over-reliance on the U.S. model of entrepreneurship for analysis, espousing Western-based theoretical values and foundations. We discuss how researchers and journals can promote future research efforts focusing on indigenous entrepreneurship activities, applying indigenously developed theory.