Identity, enactment and entrepreneurship engagement in a declining place.

Anderson, Alistair R.; Warren, Lorraine; Bensemann, Jo

Abstract

We examine entrepreneurship practice and identity work in a rural small town in New Zealand. Once prosperous, the town suffered economically and socially as old industries closed. Recently the town was rejuvenated, at least in part because of the entrepreneurial endeavours of Linda. Our findings demonstrated conflict between her entrepreneurial identity and local sense of place. We theorise Linda's entrepreneurial identity in her business practice, where she experienced controversy despite economic success. We argue that a complete understanding of identity and entrepreneurship practices requires attention to social and spatial processes, not just economic processes.

Citation

ANDERSON, A.R., WARREN, L. and BENSEMANN, J. 2019. Identity, enactment and entrepreneurship engagement in a declining place. Journal of small business management [online], 57(4), pages 1559-1577. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12406

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 29, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Feb 11, 2018
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jan 5, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 12, 2020
• Journal: Journal of small business management
• Print ISSN: 0047-2778
• Electronic ISSN: 1540-627X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 1559-1577
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12406
• Keywords: Entrepreneurial identity; Small business practice; Depleted community; Rural; New Zealand; Legitimacy
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2643