The failure of community-based entrepreneurship in Haiti. Issue 1 (3rd December 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lundahl, Mats
• Is Part Of: International journal of innovation and regional development. Volume 2:Issue 1/2 (2010)
• Page Start: 112
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2009-12-03
• Subjects: business tradition -- community entrepreneurship -- communal structures -- Haiti; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Community development -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 307.105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1753-0660

Abstract

Community-based entrepreneurship is entrepreneurship facilitating the emergence of other entrepreneurs. It is linked to communal and cooperative structures of various kinds. Haiti is a country with many such structures. Still, no community-based entrepreneurship has emerged. The article identifies the reasons for this. Traditional structures have dissolved or changed character. Modern cooperatives have had a bad start, partly because of political interference and the trade union movement has been largely politicised. The Haitian business tradition is individualistic. In the food market competition rules, in the coffee market oligopolistic collusion has alternated with stern competition, in other branches the state has acted to protect a few producers, and the assembly sector has had to compete in the international market. The gaps between the common man, the government and the elite have militated against community-based entrepreneurship. Finally, social capital and trust are lacking and this does not produce leaders that further entrepreneurship.