Entrepreneurship is Not a Binding Constraint on Growth and Development in the Poorest Countries

Summary Many economists claim that entrepreneurship is an important determinant of economic growth and development. In the sub-discipline of development economics however, entrepreneurship is largely absent from explanations of growth and development. This may be because arguments and evidence marshaled by other economists studying entrepreneurship fail to convincingly show that entrepreneurship is a binding constraint on development in the poorest countries. However, by neglecting entrepreneurship development economics may fail to appreciate how institutions shape development outcomes. It is worthwhile to study entrepreneurship in development as it may improve our understanding of the real binding constraints.