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Public Sector Entrepreneurship: Present State and Research Avenues for the Future

Author

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  • Bojan Moric Milovanovic

    (Institute of Public Finance, Smičiklasova 21, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Matea Cvjetkovic

    (Institute of Public Finance, Smičiklasova 21, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Jasmina Masovic

    (Institute of Public Finance, Smičiklasova 21, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

Public sector entrepreneurship (PSE) is a growing area of knowledge that studies the application of innovative activities and processes to enhance public service quality. This can ultimately affect the public organization’s performance and the country’s economic success and growth. Even though PSE has been studied through the lenses of several academic disciplines, its assumptions are often based on the insights derived from research on entrepreneurship in the private sector. The theories of public entrepreneurship are scattered throughout the literature, while empirical research is still scarce. There exists a need to build a conceptual characterization that distinguishes its unique indicative dimensions. This paper aims to collect and summarize some of the definitions, theories, dimensions, and determinants of public sector entrepreneurship and propose avenues for future empirical research. It is a literature review using the PRISMA methodology to examine public sector entrepreneurship, systematically collecting and synthesizing previous research. This approach yielded 55 publications, which were used as sources for developing a comprehensive conceptualization of PSE. The paper’s contribution is reflected in this review and analysis, as well as its suggestions for future research topics and empirical methods in this developing area of knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Bojan Moric Milovanovic & Matea Cvjetkovic & Jasmina Masovic, 2025. "Public Sector Entrepreneurship: Present State and Research Avenues for the Future," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-28, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:71-:d:1597253
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Timo TREMML, 2019. "Linking Two Worlds? Entrepreneurial Orientation In Public Enterprises: A Systematic Review And Research Agenda," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 90(1), pages 25-51, March.
    2. Mehmet Akif Demircioglu & Farzana Chowdhury, 2021. "Entrepreneurship in public organizations: the role of leadership behavior," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1107-1123, October.
    3. Marine Colon & Laetitia Guerin-Schneider, 2015. "The reform of New Public Management and the creation of public values: compatible processes? An empirical analysis of public water utilities," Post-Print hal-01567806, HAL.
    4. Vassallo, Jarrod P. & Banerjee, Sourindra & Zaman, Hasanuzzaman & Prabhu, Jaideep C., 2023. "Design thinking and public sector innovation: The divergent effects of risk-taking, cognitive empathy and emotional empathy on individual performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    5. Nancy C. Roberts, 1992. "Roberts: Public Entrepreneurship and Innovation," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 11(1), pages 55-74, March.
    6. Luc Bernier, 2014. "Public enterprises as policy instruments: the importance of public entrepreneurship," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 253-266, July.
    7. Michael H. Morris & Foard F. Jones, 1999. "Entrepreneurship in Established Organizations: The Case of the Public Sector," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 24(1), pages 71-91, October.
    8. Luc Bernier, 2014. "Public enterprises as policy instruments: the importance of public entrepreneurship," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 253-266, September.
    9. Tarek Rana & Danture Wickramasinghe & Enrico Bracci, 2019. "New development: Integrating risk management in management control systems—lessons for public sector managers," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(2), pages 148-151, February.
    10. Constance E. Helfat & Aseem Kaul & David J. Ketchen & Jay B. Barney & Olivier Chatain & Harbir Singh, 2023. "Renewing the resource‐based view: New contexts, new concepts, and new methods," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(6), pages 1357-1390, June.
    11. Serden Özcan & Toke Reichstein, 2009. "Transition to Entrepreneurship from the Public Sector: Predispositional and Contextual Effects," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 55(4), pages 604-618, April.
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