Compensatory Entrepreneurship: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Global Isomorphic Entrepreneurship Research and Activities

Entrepreneurship promotion is a ubiquitous activity, promoted world-wide as offering solutions ranging from economic development to poverty reduction and mobility. This paper examines the research literature suggesting learning opportunities that might be provided to Brazilian scholars and practitioners. The paper also introduces a new concept in entrepreneurship: that of compensatory entrepreneurship. It is defined as the political endorsement of entrepreneurial promotion activities, including training, incubation, and media dissemination, for the primary objective of maintaining political and/or economic control of one population over another. The paper provides examples and suggestions for developing a uniquely effective mode of Brazilian entrepreneurship development. Entrepreneurship promotion is a ubiquitous activity, promoted world-wide as offering solutions ranging from economic development to poverty reduction and mobility. This paper examines the research literature suggesting learning opportunities that might be provided to Brazilian scholars and practitioners. The paper also introduces a new concept in entrepreneurship: that of compensatory entrepreneurship. It is defined as the political endorsement of entrepreneurial promotion activities, including training, incubation, and media dissemination, for the primary objective of maintaining political and/or economic control of one population over another. The paper provides examples and suggestions for developing a uniquely effective mode of Brazilian entrepreneurship development.