Abstract
This study examines which structural dimensions of the entrepreneurial ecosystem explain variation in the density of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) at the municipal level in Brazil. Drawing on ecosystem theory and institutional economics, the paper conceptualises entrepreneurial density as an observable output of urban structural conditions. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, the analysis models the relationship between seven ecosystem dimensions—regulatory environment, infrastructure, market conditions, access to capital, innovation, human capital, and entrepreneurial culture—and municipal-level entrepreneurial density. By decomposing structural pillars rather than treating composite indices as aggregate performance measures, the study advances a more precise understanding of how ecosystem configurations shape firm entry dynamics in a large emerging economy. The findings aim to contribute to the empirical validation of entrepreneurial ecosystem theory and to inform policy prioritisation by identifying which structural determinants most strongly account for spatial variation in entrepreneurial entry.
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Developmental Paper
Primary Track
Entrepreneurship
Keywords
Entrepreneurship Theories;International entrepreneurship;Entrepreneurship in emerging markets