Abstract
In many European countries, community-based entrepreneurship is increasingly considered as a means to initiate small-scale urban regeneration. However, residents in deprived neighbourhoods are often viewed to lack key entrepreneurial skills. Most research on community entrepreneurship support is based on cross-sectional studies and overly focused on government support. This paper extends current knowledge by reporting a unique national experiment in the Netherlands with community enterprises receiving support from a private foundation. The paper aims to investigate how active citizens perceive the benefits and drawbacks of this support. Using a unique longitudinal approach, the paper analyses transcriptions of repeated semi-structured interviews (panel design) from community enterprises in several neighbourhoods. While positive feedback is found, the study provides strong evidence for a support paradox: the support that was intended to overcome a number of entry barriers and difficulties on the road to community entrepreneurship has significantly hampered progress among several community enterprises.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 570-589 |
Journal | International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Accepted Author ManuscriptKeywords
- community entrepreneurship
- community enterprise
- social enterprise
- austerity
- active citizenship
- urban regeneration
- self-organisation
- neighbourhoods
- support
- The Netherlands