Enterprise survival and growth: A conceptual exposition of entrepreneurial activities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Research on Informal Economy has advanced over recent years and gained increasing popularity. Despite this interest, there is a dearth of research exploring the institutionalisation of informal economy enterprises (IEE), particularly enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and implications for the institutional environment. This chapter begins to address the deficit by conceptualising the establishment of a Nano Enterprise (NE) classification as an enabler for the institutionalisation of informal economy enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa. The survival and growth of IEE would be inherently challenging as informality creates resource-constraints. We argue that the establishment of a Nano Enterprise classification as an enabler for institutionalisation should operationally enhance the legitimacy and prospect of survival and growth among IEE in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, that the nature of the context and institutionalisation pressures will equally impact any outcome. Finally, the chapter explores new avenues for entrepreneurship researchers to empirically test the institutionalisation proposal presented in this study.