Editorial: 38–3 and future special issue on inclusive entrepreneurship: a way forward to overcome marginalization among Latin American entrepreneurs

Editorial: 38–4 and future special issues on inclusive entrepreneurship and on small and medium-sized enterprises: talent, entrepreneurship and competitiveness in Latin America

This study investigates the transformative potential of integrating local wisdom encompassing indigenous knowledge, cultural values, and traditional ecological practices into digital platforms to drive innovation and foster green economic growth, aligning with global sustainability agendas. It highlights how local wisdom, often manifested in heritage crafts, regenerative agriculture, and community-based resource management, serves as a foundation for eco-friendly production systems, ethical trade, and inclusive entrepreneurship when amplified through digital technologies such as e-commerce, traceability systems, and financial technology. Employing a mixed-method approach involving case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America alongside quantitative analyses of export growth, job creation, and supply chain resilience, the research reveals that embedding cultural identity and sustainable practices into digital commerce enhances product authenticity, attracts premium markets, reduces carbon footprints through localized production, and empowers marginalized groups, including women and indigenous communities. The findings underscore that such integration not only contributes to fair trade and decent work but also strengthens biodiversity conservation, promotes circular economy principles, and mitigates socio-economic inequalities. The study recommends implementing policy incentives, digital literacy programs, and multi-stakeholder collaborations between governments, platform developers, and cultural institutions to scale these initiatives, ultimately positioning local wisdom as a strategic driver for environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and innovation-driven economic transformation in the digital era.

This study investigates how Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute to poverty reduction and income inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Drawing on panel data from 103 MSMEs across 11 countries between 2013 and 2022, we analyze how employment growth, revenue expansion, and enhanced start‐up conditions contribute to inclusive development. Our findings reveal that employment growth has significant poverty‐reducing effects but simultaneously correlates with increased income inequality, indicating an inherent tension in MSME‐driven development. Revenue growth plays a minor role, while a more favorable start‐up environment correlates with both lower poverty and reduced inequality. These results suggest that MSMEs can support inclusive entrepreneurship and inclusive growth only under institutional frameworks that promote fairness, formalization, and access. This study contributes to the corporate social responsibility literature by bridging micro‐level firm dynamics with macro‐level structural conditions through a context‐sensitive institutional lens, which is rarely adopted in empirical CSR research. The observed duality between economic growth and social equity outcomes underscores the necessity for integrated strategies that align business performance with broader social responsibility objectives.

Paraguay and the United States: Distant Allies

Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) have emerged as pivotal platforms bridging academia, industry, and society, serving as key drivers of regional entrepreneurial ecosystems. They sustain innovation growth through mentorship, infrastructure access, and knowledge transfer. Research has shown that TBIs function as connectors among entrepreneurship education, experiential learning, and sustainable regional development (Lamine et al., 2018). Building on this, Yuan, Hao, Guan, and Pentland (2021) identified four critical components—people, technology, capital, and infrastructure—that significantly influence incubator performance, based on panel data from 857 national technology incubators in China. More recently, incubation models have increasingly integrated social and inclusive development. Baskaran, Chandran, and Ng (2019) emphasized the role of business incubators, academia, and social enterprises in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and sustainable growth in Asia. Similarly, Karambakuwa and Bayat (2022) demonstrated how incubation hubs support marginalized groups by offering tailored training, market access, and networking opportunities. Extending this perspective, Coscarello (2025) found that university social innovation incubators in Latin America and Italy can act as catalysts for territorial development and social inclusion, particularly when guided by participatory governance models aligned with the Quadruple and Quintuple Helix frameworks.

The relationship between values and entrepreneurial behavior is explored by reviewing recent research on value orientations and entrepreneurship Latin America. Latin American entrepreneurs place personal and emotional interests ahead of business, are unusually likely to practice nepotism, and are fairly averse to risk.Considering that the Latin American value system discourages entrepreneurial behavior, it is possible to regard Latin American entrepreneurs as sociological deviants.Whereas North American entrepreneurs belong to mainstream structures of society, Latin American entrepreneurs are often marginal figures of foreign origin who have studied modern, non-traditional disciplines such as engineering and pharmacy.In North America, members of the business elite hail from families and communities with socially privileged backgrounds.The entrepreneurial drive, other words, is a value associated with in groups North America.In short, cultural values are among the major forces that affect a nation's potential for economic development.(SAA)

Latin America and the Caribbean Region experienced dramatic changes in the 1990s. Politically, all but one country, are governed by a democratically elected government. Economically, import substitution industrialization policies (ISI) followed in the past, were replaced by liberalization programs aimed at reducing inflationary pressures and creating a competitive environment. The significant increase in capital flows to Latin America in one single year, 1990, buried the 1980s as the “lost decade,” and the successful implementation of privatization programs region-wide prompted to affirm that the 1990s might constitute the “Latin America's decade.” Where does the euphoria come from? Is there any implicit promise to be derived from such international capital flows? Will the pattern be sustained? Has Latin America begun a new era? Are unfolding events on defiance of fundamentals? These and many other questions can be raised regarding the spectacular transformation of Latin America and the Caribbean, particu...

The article deals with a number of problems associated with the growing presence of China in the Latin American continent. The author emphasizes that mutual interest is based on economic factors. In particular, the rapidly developing Chinese economy needs more raw materials and agricultural products, which are available in abundance in Latin America. At the same time, the countries of the continent are interested in freeing from orientation solely to the United States and in a diversification of external relations. The present bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties between China and Latin America showed a strengthening of trade and economic cooperation. But Beijing's strategy is based on a model of exchange of raw materials to finished products. This causes some resentment on the part of Latin American experts and entrepreneurs.

Aim/Purpose: The directors of Tech Latinas were happy with what they had created and the impact their company had made in Ecuador, Peru and Guatemala. Now that they had seen their vision come to fruition in ways that were astounding to them. They wanted to take the next steps in growing their business so Tech Latinas mission could spread beyond its current bounds. Before working out the logistics, the Tech Latina team expanded their vision. They wanted to scale Tech Latinas throughout Latin America. They hoped to find the best talent among the 37 million young women in these countries who were currently either unemployed or informally employed. They estimated that 1.2 million web developers in Latin America would be required that by 2025. Background: The entrepreneurial tech wave has hit Latin America hard, and it appears to be gaining momentum. A new generation of millennials and post-millennials, led by a group of early entrepreneurs in their late 30s to early 50s, believes that it can improve lives by creating new and better solutions to everyday problems. One such area is teaching coding and tech skills to women who live in middle to low-income Latin American households. Despite the advantages and opportunities, there are also great obstacles to make it all happen in Latin America. Some cultural and some systemic. Culturally, Latin Americans are very averse to risk, and most only invest in “secure” ventures such as real estate. The lack of financial education is a key factor that does not allow potential entrepreneurs to thrive. On the systemic side, corruption, lack of institutional trust and impunity are probably the biggest hurdles to surpass in the next few years. Companies need to think globally and compete against global competitors. Methodology: Data was collected through a qualitative approach with several in-depth interviews Contribution: In following trends of Latin American growth and development, the main opportunities will end up being in the technology sector as advances in education and know-how disseminate. The hope is that this knowledge gap will provide jobs for millions trying to lift themselves out of poverty. Findings: That nascent ventures in Latin America face different and unique challages. The ability to scale and the lack of capital that would invest in social causes is unfortunately scarce in the region. This makes it difficult to Recommendations for Practitioners: This case could be used for discussion around lessons from emerging market entrepreneurship. Many strategies of the struggles and triumphs of Latin American entrepreneurs are worth noting as practitioners due to the acute necessity-driven approach to many Latin American entrepreneurs toward venture success. Recommendation for Researchers: Maybe employing a scale of some sort to differentiate net impact socially and economically these tech educational training facilities Impact on Society: That there is a need to support organic entrepreneurial efforts in not only gaining returns but supporting social causes that lift societies. Also, it is a wise investment to invest in women and in emerging economies. Future Research: It would be interesting to further follow the Tech Latinas and other initiatives in this area of knowledge transfer and economic development. It would be interesting to do a study or a scale of results of impact between countries not only in Latin America but other women coding and IT training efforts around the world.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the challenges and opportunities of sustainability within the sharing economy (SE) model in the post-pandemic Latin American business landscape. It focuses on identifying how companies adopting sustainable practices can contribute to the region’s sustainable development. Methodology: Following the PRISMA reporting guidelines, a systematic literature review was conducted to uncover the current state of research at the intersection of SE and sustainable development in Latin America. This approach highlighted the scarcity of focused studies and set the groundwork for further empirical research. Results: The findings reveal a significant gap in the literature regarding SE entrepreneurship’s role in sustainable development in Latin America. Despite the challenges related to informality and uncertainty, enterprises prioritizing sustainable practices within the SE model show strong potential for impactful growth. The proposed growth model emphasizes the synergy between sustainable thinking and Industry 4.0, fostering resource efficiency and competitive advantage. Originality/Value: This study makes a unique contribution by focusing on the underexplored area of SE and sustainability in Latin America, presenting a novel growth model that integrates Industry 4.0 with sustainability principles. Practical Implications: The findings suggest that adopting sustainable SE models can assist Latin American entrepreneurs and businesses in overcoming post-pandemic challenges while aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, leading to more resilient business models. Social Implications: This study underscores the potential positive social impact of adopting sustainable SE models in Latin America by promoting a more inclusive and collaborative economy to drive regional sustainable development.

These times are very troubled ones. Not only do wars and political unrest seem to prevail in different regions of the world, but, corruption and fraud have reached an incredible dimension, too. It seems that societies have, to a large extent, lost values in which they had formerly believed in. These issues may be the background why at the moment Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a voluntary commitment is discussed in public that intensively. However, one gets the impression that this rather often seems to be superficial. Therefore, it is time to do some in-depth research to identify whether there is real substance behind these discussions or not. Latin America is a big continent with a greater number of countries which are running through difficult times as to corruption and fraud. Consequently, the author studied the policy of the central employers association Consejo Empresarial de America Latina (CEAL) with respect to the role of CSR. On the basis of statements, news and results of studies being regularly published, conclusions were drawn to which extent social and environmental aspects, along the line of ISO 26000, are playing a relevant role. In order to avoid a too narrow view of the issue, a holistic approach concerning the generalsituation of Latin America has been selected using parameters such as economic growth, increase of population, poverty, inequality, and the global responsibility for environment. Furthermore, apart from the central organization CEAL, regional and national institutions with a specific mission for spreading and implementing CSR and two communal projects were analyzed as well. The conclusion of the paper is that there are some CSR lighthouses but an urgent need exists to spread the idea of CSR more intensively across the continent. Corresponding recommendations about how to increase the relevance of CSR in Latin America are given at the end of the paper.

In the context of the ongoing reformatting of world economic relations, Latin American countries have increased opportunities for technological upsurge and digital modernization of key sectors of national economies. At the same time, Latin American entrepreneurs and politicians seek to act rationally and cautiously. In particular, in the energy sector, the states of the region are trying to combine the transition to carbon neutrality based on the predominant use of new technologies and renewable energy carriers with the intensive exploitation of traditional energy sources, including conventional and shale hydrocarbons. In the mining industry, the main task of Latin American countries is to decarbonize the production process with the help of “green” hydrogen and the most advanced methods of extraction and processing of raw materials. Of global importance are the huge reserves of lithium located in Latin America, without which the further deployment of the technological revolution is extremely difficult. This explains the significant interest shown by transnational corporations in the development of deposits of the “lithium triangle”. In the field of agriculture in Latin America, profound changes are taking place, the system of so-called precision farming is shaping. The role of Latin American countries (primarily Brazil) as suppliers of food to the world market is constantly increasing. All this, and much more, signals new trends in the region that change its usual economic appearance. As shown in the article, the rapid growth of the technology sector in Latin America based on digitalization, “green” energy and precision farming can lead to a deep modernization of the key sectors of the economy and ensure the transition of the region to the “new business normal”, which is the consistent structural transformation and adaptation of Latin American countries to post-Covid world economic realities.

Entrepreneurship is a fundamental driver of growth, development, and job creation. While Latin America and the Caribbean has a wealth of entrepreneurs, firms in the region, compared to those in other regions, are small in size and less likely to grow or innovate. Productivity growth has remained lackluster for decades, including during the recent commodity boom. Enhancing the creation of good jobs and accelerating productivity growth in the region will require dynamic entrepreneurs. This book studies the landscape of entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean. Utilizing new datasets that cover issues such as firm creation, firm dynamics, export decisions, and the behavior of multinational corporations, the book synthesizes the results of a comprehensive analysis of the status, prospects, and challenges of entrepreneurship in the region. Useful tools and information are provided to help policy makers and practitioners identify policy areas governments can explore to enhance innovation and encourage high-growth, transformational entrepreneurship.

Статья посвящена региональным и глобальным факторам, которые способствовали трансформации экономических элит Латинской Америки после принятия неолиберального курса общественного развития. Установлению неолиберализма предшествовал кризис импортозамещающей экономической модели, которая стремилась вывести латиноамериканские государства из зависимости от развитых стран. Ориентация на экспорт, которая сохранилась на этом этапе, стала одной из важных причин провала взятого курса. Падение цен на сырьё и продовольствие на мировых рынках способствовало долговому кризису и затяжной стагнации, которые охватили большую часть региона. Внешние условия подтолкнули фундаментальные изменения в Латинской Америке. Экономические элиты, пользуясь опытом передовых экономик, стали идеологами и реализаторами неолиберальной политики. В результате благоприятных внешних условий и экономических реформ, влияние крупного бизнеса заметно выросло, превратив латиноамериканских предпринимателей из локальных акторов в субъекты международного значения. На фоне роста социальной напряженности неолиберализм вступил в кризис, что привело к появлению новых политических сил на континенте. Получив поддержку масс, они пытались пересмотреть неолиберальную модель, но столкнулись с сопротивлением экономических элит. В результате левые партии трансформировали свои программы с учётом глобальных интересов крупного бизнеса. С завершением экспортного бума тактический союз левых правительств и предпринимателей разрушился, приведя к приходу к власти правых политиков. Внешние факторы стали важным двигателем общественных процессов в Латинской Америке, трансформировав экономическую элиту в более глобализованную и влиятельную силу в рамках национальных обществ. The article is devoted to the regional and global factors that contributed to the transformation of Latin American economic elites after the adoption of the neoliberal development policy. The establishment of neoliberalism was preceded by the crisis of the import-substitution economic model, which sought to lead Latin American states out of dependence on developed countries. The orientation on export that persisted at this stage was one of the key reasons why this policy failed. Falling global commodity and food prices contributed to the debt crisis and prolonged stagnation that plagued much of the region. External conditions spurred fundamental changes in Latin America. Economic elites, using the experience of advanced economies, became ideologues and implementers of neoliberal policies. As a result of favorable external conditions and economic reforms, the influence of big business increased significantly, transforming Latin American entrepreneurs from local actors into subjects of international importance. Because of growing social tensions, neoliberalism entered a crisis, which led to the emergence of new political forces on the continent. Having gained the support of the masses, they tried to revise the neoliberal model, but faced resistance from economic elites. As a result, leftist parties transformed their programs to take into account the global interests of big business. With the end of the export boom, the tactical alliance between left-wing governments and entrepreneurs broke down, leading to the rise to power of right-wing politicians. External factors became an important driver of social processes in Latin America, transforming the economic elite into a more globalized and influential force within national societies.

Nesta introdução à edição especial da revista Gestão & Regionalidade, intitulada “Gestão e Inovação na América Latina”, primeiro elaboramos revisão da literatura sobre inovação na região, depois apresentamos os dez artigos que compõem esta edição, e por fim realizamos reflexão breve sobre o presente e o futuro dos estudos sobre economia e gestão da inovação na América Latina. O desempenho inovativo da região continua bastante aquém da sua relevância econômica, embora haja aumento da pesquisa acadêmica sobre a temática. Pesquisas futuras devem destacar as formas interativas de promover a inovação, as inovações sociais, a inovação pública, as inovações para a sustentabilidade, as inovações tecnológicas associadas à quarta revolução industrial, e a natureza muito específica do empreendedorismo latino-americano.