L'odyssée d'un concept et les multiples figures de l'entrepreneur

This article focuses on the role and economic contribution of the entrepreneur. The role and concept of the entrepreneur have been extensively discussed in the literature. As a result the concept of the entrepreneur has evolved and the entrepreneur is often mixed up with the firm. An historical and dynamic perspective is adopted to study the role of the entrepreneur, and the analysis suggests that the times when entrepreneurs have been particularly active in the economic and social context tally with the emergence of new entrepreneurial stereotypes and forms. The purpose of the article is to link the conceptual and contextual dimensions to study the emergence and raise of entrepreneurs through time. It appears, however, that entrepreneurs often defy aggregation and economic theory. The economic cycles and the spirit of capitalism require that the entrepreneur assumes risk and questions the established order. Today, this is even more true in the globalisation context. We live in an entrepreneurial era : times are particularly favourable for entrepreneurs to move up in the social and economic ladder.