De Gruyter Handbook of Chinese Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship has been central to China’s transformation into the world’s second largest economy since the country’s reform and opening-up. Today, the entrepreneurial landscape is undergoing significant change. A new generation of entrepreneurs—shaped more by market dynamics than the legacy of central planning—is taking the lead. Early ventures have grown into national champions, now grappling with complexityand the risk of complacency. Meanwhile, a stronger state presence and global headwinds have reshaped the policy and business environment. As China confronts demographic shifts and the limits of an export-led growth model, it once again turns to entrepreneurship to drive innovation and avoid the middle-income trap.

This handbook looks at the complex dynamics and changing nature of entrepreneurshipin China. It provides overviews of up-to-date research in four important areas: how Chinese entrepreneurs exercise their ability to seek and seize market opportunitiesin the face of uncertainty; how entrepreneurial firms in China facilitate the continuous leveraging of opportunities; how entrepreneurial ecosystems are evolving to support the entrepreneurial actions of both individuals and organisations; and how entrepreneurship is exercised as an instrument to address pressing societal challenges.