Philosophies in entrepreneurship: a focus on economic theories

Purpose To analyse the philosophies underlying economic studies in entrepreneurship and to explain how they contribute to the understanding of entrepreneurial behaviour. Design/methodology/approach A range of historical studies is reviewed that examine entrepreneurship from an economic perspective. A framework of social science research paradigms is used to categorise these approaches according to their philosophical assumptions. Findings The paper finds that certain philosophies can harm the development of theory and that study using a wider range could help improve the value of research. Originality/value This paper fills an identified gap in philosophical discussions by exploring the economic theories. In doing so, it provides a structured approach to understanding some of the differences that underlie economic policy supporting the promotion of enterprise.