Entrepreneurship and Economic Development: A Leadership Framework

Scholars have increasingly lauded the importance of entrepreneurship activity to economic development. Unlike in the Western context where that critical importance has been vigorously documented, a survivalist natured entrepreneurship is reported to be a common trend in the SSA context where high unemployment and poverty levels remain major challenges. Reviewed literature also points to a high business discontinuation rate in SSA compared to other continents. Leveraging the fit viewpoint of leadership, this chapter forwards a dual leadership framework that combines entrepreneurs’ and government aspects to contribute not only to knowledge development in this area but also to pinpoint core leadership initiatives for refocusing entrepreneurship activity to impact economic development in the SSA setting. In line with these dual contribution targets, recommendations are offered as well as core directions for advancing research flagged.