Entrepreneurialism, Inequality, and Society: Organizational and Policy Implications

This special issue investigates how the phenomenon of entrepreneurialism shapes society, particularly with respect to inequality. While entrepreneurship has evolved from being viewed as a fringe phenomenon focused largely, if not entirely, on the creation of new products and services, it is now widely viewed as a mechanism for addressing social challenges ranging from poverty alleviation to climate change, inequality, and, most recently, government policy. The impact of these new forms of entrepreneurial engagement thus extends beyond the marketplace, influencing public policies and governance structures, with some advocating for the replacement of traditional state interventions with market-based solutions. The purpose of this special issue is to explore the impact of these new forms of entrepreneurial engagement on society, paying particular attention not only to how entrepreneurship has changed society, but also to how entrepreneurship has contributed to, and perhaps further perpetuated, socioeconomic challenges.