The evolution of the small business and entrepreneurship field: A bibliometric investigation of articles published in the International Small Business Journal

Abstract

This article analyses the evolution of the small business management and entrepreneurship fields as reflected in articles published in its premier journal, the International Small Business Journal. It investigates the evolution of the fields through bibliometric examination of all 660 articles published between 1982 and 2012. While small business management has remained the main focus of the journal, there has been a significant growth in the number of articles focusing specifically on entrepreneurship. Also identified in this analysis are the rise of theoretical studies and the relative decline of descriptive work. Parallel to a clear improvement in the rigour of the articles published, the field of small business and entrepreneurship has relied on a multidisciplinary foundation which offers a diverse and multifaceted engagement. Despite this increasing diversity, it appears that small business and entrepreneurship have unique characteristics that distinguish this field from the broader economics and or management discipline.