ABSTRACT

The current entrepreneurship research has primarily focused on external environmental factors that influence enterprise development in developed economies, whilst studies from developing economies are lagging. Yet, evidence from the World Bank and Global Entrepreneurship Index suggest that entrepreneurship practice in developing economies has peaked. Using semi-structured interview data from 20 entrepreneurs in The Gambia, we examined their motivations for entrepreneurship, the market opportunities and challenges hindering enterprise growth. We found the factors influencing motivation to be individual (necessity, poverty, job creation, personal knowledge, and experience) and contextual (opportunity recognition, ethnic and religious norms). Interestingly, three forms of opportunities were identified: entrepreneurial networks, competitive market, and discovery. Nonetheless, the entrepreneurs faced individual challenges – insufficient finance and unskilled staff – and contextual limitations such as political change, limited government reforms, high taxes, high business cost, and market uncertainty. We offer critical insights into individual and contextual motivations for entrepreneurship, extending the current discourse. In addition, we expose specific dynamic market influences for enterprise development in a developing economy.

摘要

当前的创业研究主要集中在影响发达经济体企业发展的外部环境因素上，而发展中经济体的研究相对滞后。然而，世界银行和全球创业指数的证据表明，发展中经济体的创业实践已经达到顶峰。使用来自冈比亚 20 位企业家的半结构化访谈数据，我们检查了他们的创业动机、市场机遇和阻碍企业发展的挑战。我们发现影响动机的因素是个人（必要性、贫困、创造就业机会、个人知识和经验）和背景（机会识别、种族和宗教规范）。有趣的是，确定了三种形式的机会：创业网络、竞争市场、和发现。尽管如此，企业家们面临着个人挑战——资金不足和员工不熟练——以及政治变革、有限的政府改革、高税收、高商业成本和市场不确定性等环境限制。我们提供对创业的个人和背景动机的批判性见解，扩展当前的讨论。此外，我们揭示了在发展中经济体中企业发展的特定动态市场影响。扩展当前的话语。此外，我们揭示了在发展中经济体中企业发展的特定动态市场影响。扩展当前的话语。此外，我们揭示了在发展中经济体中企业发展的特定动态市场影响。