Digital futures of small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunity

Article

Reuschke, D., Mason, C. and Syrett, S. 2021. Digital futures of small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunity. Futures. 128, pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102714
TypeArticle
TitleDigital futures of small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunity
AuthorsReuschke, D., Mason, C. and Syrett, S.
Abstract

This introduction to the Special Issue discusses the status quo of the literature on digital entrepreneurship and digital economy highlighting the neglect of a significant and growing segment of the small business sector whose futures have remained under-researched: self-employed workers and freelancers who run one-person or micro-businesses and home-based businesses that operate largely or exclusively online. Their digital futures and opportunities cannot be understood in simple dichotomies such as ‘necessity’ versus ‘opportunity’ or ‘use’ versus ‘non-use’ of digital technologies. Instead, it is suggested to consider the spatial and social contexts of these more ‘ordinary’ or ‘unexceptional’ businesses. Attention is drawn to networks and social capital and their spatial embeddedness in complementing human capital. Concepts of the second digital divide, digital generations, entrepreneurial bricolage and spatial proximity and city ecosystems are discussed to make suggestions about the possible digital futures of small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunity.

Research GroupCentre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research (CEEDR)
PublisherElsevier
JournalFutures
ISSN0016-3287
Publication dates
Online22 Feb 2021
Print30 Apr 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited01 Mar 2021
Accepted18 Feb 2021
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
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Copyright Statement

© 2021. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Additional information

Referred to by: Darja Reuschke, Colin Mason, Stephen Syrett, Digital futures of small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunity. Futures, Volume 135, January 2022, Pages 102877
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102877. See Repository record: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/34464

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102714
LanguageEnglish
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