Title: Dynamism and performance of indigenous entrepreneurs: role of tribal culture and failure of policy incentives in Mizoram (India)

Authors: Shailaja S. Thakur; Amit S. Ray

Addresses: Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, India ' Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

Abstract: This paper aims at exploring the drivers of entrepreneurial dynamism and performance in indigenous societies. In Mizoram (India) with a predominantly tribal population, the government has actively intervened to encourage entrepreneurship through policy incentives/subsidies. Yet, the region continues to lag behind in entrepreneurship development. In an attempt to explain this apparent failure of conventional policies to promote entrepreneurship in Mizoram (India), this paper explores the factors that could potentially determine entrepreneurial dynamism and performance in an indigenous society through the lens of their tribal culture and institutions. Our results show that tribal values are the prime drivers of entrepreneurial dynamism, while conventional traits and attitudes have no impact, disproving two dominant narratives. We also find that conventional subsidies have a negative impact on profitability, perhaps due a dampening effect of subsidies on dynamism.

Keywords: indigenous entrepreneurship; Mizoram; India; tribal values; policy incentives; entrepreneurial dynamism; culture and entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2020.109435

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2020 Vol.41 No.1, pp.129 - 160

Received: 23 May 2018
Accepted: 01 Aug 2018
Published online: 09 Sep 2020 *

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