Entrepreneurship and Human Development: An International Analysis

Purpose – This study aims to analyze the impact on human development of rates of innovative entrepreneurship and necessity entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach – Our empirical study is based on samples from countries with information about rates of entrepreneurship, human development, and social progress. The data are analyzed by means of pooled least squares and panel data techniques. Findings – Innovative entrepreneurship improves the quality of life in the dimensions measured by the Social Progress Index and Modified Human Development Index. Necessity entrepreneurship does not favor an increase of human development, at least in the dimensions measured by the two indexes, since this is a subsistence entrepreneurship type. Originality/value – This study presents new evidence that contributes to the knowledge on how entrepreneurship improves quality of life. Keywords – human development, innovative entrepreneurship, necessity entrepreneurship, capability approach

Análisis de las políticas públicas en el desarrollo de micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas en Colombia, considerando su aplicación en la operación de los centros de desarrollo empresarial

El desarrollo de las Micros, Pequeñas y Medianas empresas en Colombia, de conformidad con el documentos CONPES 3484 de 2007, presenta una serie de problemas asociados con niveles muy altos de informalidad, niveles de asociatividad muy bajos, los mercados a los cuales dirigen sus productos son muy pequeños, los niveles de formación de sus recursos humanos y tecnológicos son muy bajos, el acceso a los servicios del sector financiero son muy limitados, cuentan con muy baja capacidad de innovación, existen variados problemas para la obtención de insumos y la comercialización de sus productos, el acceso a los mercados de contratos de las entidades públicas es muy limitado. A pesar de que existe un cuerpo de políticas que tienden a favorecer este tipo de empresas, los resultados no son los esperados. En el análisis de los elementos que facilitan el desarrollo de las MIPYME, es fundamental tomar como referencia la teoría institucionalista, debido a que las instituciones de carácter oficial deben marcar las pautas y crear herramientas que faciliten la solución de las problemáticas que azotan a estas unidades productivas. De igual forma, en el marco de la globalización y el nuevo concepto de mercados que implica que para la realización de transacciones no es necesario que confluyan oferta y demanda en un sitio especifico, la competitividad de las empresas juega un papel importante, debido a que esta le permite estar acorde con los requerimientos de los mercado mundiales. En Estados Unidos de Norte América, al igual que en muchos otros países las MIPYME constituyen la gran proporción de la empresas y al igual que en Colombia presentan inconvenientes para mantenerse y crecer en el tiempo, por lo que adoptaron políticas tendientes a que desde programas y centros creados en las Universidades se desarrollaran esta empresas. El ejemplo de Estados Unidos ha sido muy exitoso y se replicó en México y en Colombia el Ministerio de Industria Comercio y Turismo está adelantando los trámites para implementar el modelo desde las Universidades. El análisis de las políticas públicas emitidas para desarrollar las MIPYME en Colombia y su posible articulación con los centro de Desarrollo Empresarial, permite tener claridad hacia donde orientar los servicios del centro dentro de la estructura actual de las instituciones. De igual forma, permite tener claridad sobre cómo fortalecer la relación Universidad empresa, mucho más allá de la cátedra de emprendimiento que es obligatoria en cada uno de los programas de estudio que ofertan estos entes de educación Superior

Effects of Information and Communication Technology Usage by Individuals, Businesses, and Government on Human Development: An International Analysis

The effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on development have been studied primarily from the perspective of their contributions to a country's economic growth. However, ICT can offer individuals much more than just monetary income it can improve many aspects of their quality of life. In fact, according to the human development paradigm, income is only one resource that helps individuals to satisfy their economic needs. Using the capabilities approach as a theoretical framework, this study applied data panel technique to a sample of 145 countries to investigate how the use and adoption of ICT, by individuals, enterprises, and governments, affects human development, as measured by the Social Progress Index and Human Development Index (HDI). The results show that regardless of a country's level of development, the individual use of ICT has a positive impact on human development; especially on the dimensions measured by HDI (having a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living). Furthermore, the use of ICTs for commercial purposes has a positive impact on human development at the global level, but if we make the analysis considering only developed countries, the relationship of this variable with human development is no longer signi cant. Regarding the impact of government use of ICT on human development, it has been veri ed that it is signi cant on developed countries. This study can be used as a tool by policymakers, especially in developing countries, to reinforce their intentions to support the use and implementation of ICTs

Effects of innovative entrepreneurship and the information society on social progress: an international analysis

The effects of entrepreneurship and information and communication technology (ICT) on countries’ development have been extensively studied, mainly from the perspective of their contributions to economic growth. However, from the human development paradigm, economic income is only resource helping people satisfy their economic needs. This study provides new evidence to bridge the gap in our understanding of how entrepreneurship and ICT improve the quality of people’s lives. To achieve this goal, we use the capabilities approach as a theoretical framework. The empirical analysis was conducted using ordinary least squares with a sample of countries to provide evidence that innovative entrepreneurship, as measured by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, has a positive relationship with human development, as measured by the Social Progress Index. The results show that ICT, as measured by the Networked Readiness Index, is positively related to social progress, indicating that ICT is a tool that helps people improve their ability to lead the life they desire. Finally, we find that ICT boosts the positive effect of innovative entrepreneurship on social progress, and thus, that enhancing ICT, and with it, entrepreneurial innovation activity, improves the quality of life