CFP: Entrepreneurship and Institutional Change (E&RD)

[entrepreneurship-phd at lists.uni-due.de]

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
SPECIAL ISSUE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 
One of the most promising lines of inquiry in entrepreneurial studies is
that exploring the influence of institutions on enterprising behaviour
and organisations. It draws upon theoretical insights provided by old
and new institutionalists, and economic sociologists: introducing
notions such as governance structures, power and trust, the cost of
transacting, habits and embeddedness in entrepreneurship research.
Within this context, researchers view (invariably implicitly)
institutions as given, and individuals or social groupings as malleable
agents whose actions - in part or in whole - may be externally defined.
This assumption rests upon the widely held conceptualisation of
institutions as the repository of common knowledge and the embodiment of
accepted practice in society. Institutions are stable, and maybe
resistant to change, but not unchangeable. Evidence supporting this
argument emanates from historical studies into the development process
as well as more recent transition studies. However, to date there is
little research into the role of entrepreneurs in shaping institutions.
This is despite the fact that the innovator-entrepreneur (as conceived
by Schumpeter) may be legitimately viewed as one of the main drivers of
institutional change.

Within this context, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development would
like to invite papers exploring how entrepreneurs may influence
(positively or negatively) the process of institutional change at the
local, regional and national level. The papers will form a Special Issue
on the theme of Entrepreneurship and Institutional Change. This will be
co edited by Prof. Christos Kalantaridis (University of Salford) and Dr
Denise Fletcher (University of Sheffield).

Papers may be conceptual or evidence-based. However, even evidence-based
papers must gain insights from, and explore implications for theory.
Thus, papers may exploit conceptual frameworks derived from oft used
approaches, such as old and new institutionalisms and economic
sociology. However, insights may be gained from robust but relatively
less commonly deployed theoretical constructs such as Austrian and
Schumpeterian economics, economic anthropology, economic history,
development studies etc.

There are a number of areas of work that would be central to the Special
Issue. These include the following:

* Entrepreneurial innovation as a driver of institutional change.
* Entrepreneurs and institutional development at the local and regional
level.
* Social and community entrepreneurship and changing norms and
institutions.
* Entrepreneurship, state capture and/or other forms of interaction with
the state in influencing institutions.
* Entrepreneurship and the cost of transacting: power, trust and beyond
* Entrepreneurial conflict regarding the pace and direction of change.
* Entrepreneurs as obstacles in the process of institutional change.
* Destructive. entrepreneurship and institutional change.

Moreover, there are a number of areas that, though narrow and
specialist, may provide useful insights into the core processes above.
These include:

* The role of entrepreneurial individuals in shaping the institutional
con text
* among ethnic minority groupings.
* Agricultural and rural entrepreneurs and changing property rights on
lands .
* especially in cases where private property rights are introduced.
* Global entrepreneurs that may instigate discontinuous change at the
local level.

The Special Issue is open to any rigorous methodological frameworks:
both quantitative and qualitative. Papers may focus upon different
levels of scholarly research. These may comprise of localised studies
focusing at the micro-level, research at the meso-level, as well as
macro-level national studies. Research on how entrepreneurs may
influence the process of institutional change has significant
implications not merely on policy formulation, but, more fundamentally,
on defining the boundaries and limitations of policy actions. Therefore,
authors are encouraged to explore the policy dimensions of their work.
 
The deadline for the submission of the papers is the 30th of September
2008. Papers will go through rigorous refereeing process in
October-November. Authors of strong papers will also be invited to
attend a Workshop, in order to strengthen the coherence of the Special
Issue. It is envisaged that the Workshop will take place in the UK in
early January 2009. Successful papers will appear in print in late 2009.
 
Deadline:   	September 30, 2008
Issue Date:   	November 30, 2009
 
Website:   	http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/authors/tepnauth.asp
 
Contact Info:   	Christos Kalantaridis
phone: 44(0)161- 2955184
email address: c.kalantaridis at salford.ac.uk
- Address -
Centre for Enterprise and Innovation Research
Salford Business School
Manchester., UK M5 4WT
United Kingdom