Sameeksha Desai

Bio: Sameeksha Desai is an academic researcher from Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The author has contributed to research in topics: Entrepreneurship & Incentive. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 76 publications receiving 2223 citations. Previous affiliations of Sameeksha Desai include George Mason University & Indiana University.

A Theory of Destructive Entrepreneurship

Abstract: Policy interest since the early 1980s has focused in different ways on the creation of a large, productive, taxable economy - in which entrepreneurship plays a role for employment, income growth and innovation. The current understanding of various forms of entrepreneurship remains incomplete, focusing largely on productive and unproductive entrepreneurship. However, destructive entrepreneurship plays an important role in many, if not most, economies. This paper addresses the conceptual gap in the allocation of entrepreneurship by proposing a theory of destructive entrepreneurship.

A Model of Destructive Entrepreneurship

Abstract: The current research on entrepreneurship as an economic phenomenon often assumes its desirability as a driver of economic development and growth. However, entrepreneurial talent can be allocated among productive, unproductive and destructive activities. This process is theorized as driven by institutions. Although the tradeoff between productive and unproductive entrepreneurship has been examined, destructive entrepreneurship has been largely ignored. We build from existing theory and define destructive entrepreneurship as wealth-destroying. We propose three assumptions to develop a model of destructive entrepreneurship that presents the mechanisms through which entrepreneurial talent behaves in this manner. We present four key propositions on the nature and behavior of destructive entrepreneurship. We conclude by identifying policy and research streams that emerge from our model.

The entrepreneurship-philanthropy nexus: nonmarket source of American entrepreneurial capitalism

Abstract: What differentiates American capitalism from all other forms of industrial capitalism is a historical focus on both the creation of wealth (entrepreneurship) and the reconstitution of wealth (philanthropy). Philanthropy has been part of the implicit American social contract that continuously nurtures and revitalizes economic prosperity. Much of the new wealth created historically has been given back to the community to build many of the great social institutions that have paved the way for future economic growth. This entrepreneurship-philanthropy nexus has not been fully explored by either economists or the general public. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that American philanthropists-particularly those who have made their own fortunes-create foundations that, in turn, contribute to greater and more widespread economic prosperity through knowledge creation. Analyzing philanthropy sheds light on our current understanding of how economic development has occurred, as well as the roots of American economic dominance.

Institutions and Export Performance in 26 Transition Economies

Abstract: This chapter examines the influence of institutional conditions—formal and informal—as well as firm age, firm size, and other characteristics on country-level export performance in 26 transition economies. A two-step empirical strategy first identifies clusters of explanatory variables and, second, applies GLS panel estimations to test for the influence of explanatory and control variables on export performance. Results show that quality of formal institutions does not directly influence export performance, but that problematic informal institutions actually improve export performance. This could be because unfavorable home country conditions could motivate firms to seek outside markets. Surprisingly, findings also show average firm size does not explain export performance. Finally, overall younger firm age is found to improve exports but to a threshold, after which export performance suffers as average firm age rises.

Entrepreneurship, economic development and institutions

Abstract: This paper is an introduction to the special issue from the 3rd Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Research Conference held in Washington, D.C., in 2008. The paper has three objectives. First, to discuss the importance of the three stages of economic development, the factor-driven stage, the efficiency-driven stage and the innovation-driven stage. Second, to examine the empirical evidence on the relationship between stages of economic development and entrepreneurship. Third, to present a summary of the papers in the context of the theory.

The multiple faces of social entrepreneurship: A review of definitional issues based on geographical and thematic criteria

Abstract: Social entrepreneurship has recently received greater recognition from the public sector, as well as from scholars. However, the lack of a unifying paradigm in the field has lead to a proliferation of definitions. Moreover, several approaches of the phenomenon, as well as different schools of thought, have emerged in different regions of the world. At first glance, because of different conceptions of capitalism and of the government's role, there seems to be a difference between the American and the European conceptions of social entrepreneurship. The objective of this paper is to clarify the concepts of ‘social entrepreneurship’, ‘social entrepreneur’ and ‘social entrepreneurship organization’ and to examine whether there is a transatlantic divide in the way these are conceived and defined. After having justified the need for a definition, we present the different geographical perspectives. North American and European literatures on social entrepreneurship are critically analysed by means of Gartner's fo...