In this valuable new addition to the Masters in Entrepreneurship series published by Routledge and the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Robert Bennett, Emeritus Professor and Emeritus Fellow of St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, turns the spotlight on policy relating to entrepreneurship and small businesses. The book sets out to provide MSc and MBA audiences studying specialist elective courses or tackling a research project an introduction to these areas. In my view, this new book more than achieves its stated objectives through adopting a clear structure and a straightforward approach to delivering its key points.
The book is organised around 10 chapters through which debates over the existence and role of policy interventions to aid specifically entrepreneurs and small businesses are played out before centring more detailed consideration of national and regional case studies to deepen understanding. These case studies provide discussion on the history and current experiences in the USA, Britain, Japan and South Korea, China and developing and transition economies. The book concludes with Bennett providing 12 recommendations, or perhaps provocations, for policy makers who wish to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in their economies.
The central strength of this book is the clarity with which the author communicates his points. The language is straightforward and direct, making it easy to follow the arguments presented. Bennett deals with the details of state intervention in enterprise and small business activities through an even-handed approach such that readers gain an appreciation of the debates and challenges ongoing in this area. The clarity that characterises this text not only lends itself to generating understanding quickly but should also make it suitable to those students whose first language is not English.
The two chapters allocated to the discussion of arguments in favour of state intervention and against these actions are a case in point. Presenting a chapter to each side of this debate allows Bennett to set out the evidence for each side in detail but without overloading the reader. In this way the key points in each chapter are described and explained, building understanding with the reader.
The book incorporates tasks and guidance for those students who want to investigate the roles of policy in places not necessarily covered by the book. At the end of each chapter, Bennett offers some structured tasks that MSc or MBA students can discuss or pursue when conducting their own research project. This feature may be especially helpful to students who acquire an interest in the topic area but who lack much experience of knowing how to conduct a small research project on these themes.
In view of the book’s content and strengths, I think that while highly suitable for MSc and interested MBA students, the book could also meet the needs of final year undergraduate students pursuing modules in enterprise and entrepreneurship. The book can also serve as a primer for researchers or anyone with a general interest in the role of policy for entrepreneurship and small businesses.
Overall then this is an excellent book, well-judged for its target audience and with potential to reach wider audiences. I think that it is a valuable contribution to the Masters in Entrepreneurship series and I am happy to recommend it to students and colleagues.
