The Hidden Enterprise Culture: Entrepreneurship in the Underground EconomyEdward Elgar, 2006 - 263 pages Portraying how entrepreneurs often start out conducting some or all of their trade on an 'off-the-books' basis and how many continue to do so once they become established, this book provides the first detailed account of the vast and ubiquitous hidden enterprise culture existing in the interstices of western economies. Until now, the role of the underground economy in enterprise creation, entrepreneurship and small business development has been largely ignored despite its widespread prevalence and importance. In contrast to much of the previous literature that views the underground economy as low-paid, exploitative sweatshop work that should be deterred, this book takes a fresh, more positive perspective that considers the underground economy as a hidden enterprise culture. Colin C. Williams prescribes the means by which western governments can best harness this hidden culture of enterprise. He outlines detailed policy initiatives that seek to assist business ventures in setting up on a formal footing, and aim to encourage underground enterprises and entrepreneurs to make the transition into the realm of legitimacy. This book provides a lucid guide as to how the hidden culture of enterprise can be brought into the open. As such, it will prove invaluable to a wide-ranging audience including scholars and students of business studies, entrepreneurship, management, economics and regional science. |
From inside the book
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... MDPs are lending- oriented and provide little or no training or additional support , others are more training- or advice - oriented and view lending as just one of a range of services ( Jurik , 2005 ) . Following the apparent success of ...
... MDPs where they provide advice , support , loans and training , might also play an effective role in helping move existing underground micro - enterprises into the legitimate realm . Until now , however , whether MDPs are effective ...
... ( MDPs ) to help businesses start off legitimately was discussed . Here , a similar approach is explored but for enabling underground enterprise to make the transition to the legitimate economy . In recent years , the development of ...