Does the entrepreneurial state crowd out entrepreneurship?

Abstract

This paper argues that an entrepreneurial state can inadvertently crowd out entrepreneurship. Using the context provided by Singapore, the paper finds that coordinated policies that prioritize and target capital, knowledge, and human capital accumulation in particular industries, sectors, technologies, and firms have created a formidable societal knowledge filter, which in turn can impede endogenous entrepreneurial activity. By serving as the entrepreneur, Singapore’s entrepreneurial state imposes its vision by assuming the core entrepreneurial values and traits of opportunity recognition, discovery, and action. The entrepreneurial state, at least in the case of Singapore, retards the transition to an entrepreneurial society, which, paradoxically, is the vision of Singapore’s entrepreneurial state.

Plain English Summary

States increasingly engage in entrepreneurial activities. This paper explains how the policies and activities of such entrepreneurial states may inadvertently create barriers to a more inclusive entrepreneurial society where entrepreneurship is embraced by diverse citizens. Drawing on the case of Singapore, this paper shows that it is not the individual state activities in the entrepreneurial sphere, but the mix of activities, which starves entrepreneurship. The article focuses on state activities in the areas of capital, knowledge, and human capital, and shows how such activities jointly have reduced the scope of private entrepreneurial endeavor. In doing so, the article provides knowledge on the relationship between entrepreneurial states and an inclusive entrepreneurial society. It draws attention to the effects of policy configurations and action on entrepreneurship.