Entrepreneurs and SMEs in Rwanda: The Model Pupil Paradox (Politics and Development in Contemporary Africa)

Entrepreneurs and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have become the darlings of neoliberal development thinking, with the received wisdom being that such enterprises hold the key to the economic transformation of low-income countries. This thinking has profoundly influenced development policy in Rwanda, but has singularly failed to deliver, with many of the enterprises resulting from such policies soon failing, and their entrepreneurial owners sinking back into poverty. This book deconstructs the myths around SMEs, and reveals how neoliberal approaches towards microcredit and related programmes have failed to address the real obstacles to SMEs in countries like Rwanda, effectively setting up these enterprises to fail. Drawing on his study of dozens of such enterprises in Rwanda, Poole outlines the real factors that have determined the failure or success of SMEs, and offers key policy recommendations for fostering successful, sustainable SMEs in Rwanda and beyond. "Entrepreneurs and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have become the darlings of neoliberal development thinking, with the received wisdom being that such enterprises hold the key to the economic transformation of low-income countries. This thinking has profoundly influenced development policy in Rwanda, but has singularly failed to deliver the much anticipated emergence of a new class of entrepreneurs and a vibrant SME sector. This book deconstructs the myths around entrepreneurship and SMEs, and reveals how neoliberal approaches towards microcredit and related programmes have failed to address the economic challenges facing countries like Rwanda. Drawing on his study of successful and aspiring entrepreneurs, Poole identifies the factors associated with successful entrepreneurship. He uncovers the unintended consequences of the entrepreneurship and SME development prescription, and offers key policy insights which have implications for Rwanda and beyond."-- Contents List of Figures List of Tables Preface List of Abbreviations PART I: KEY TERMS, RESEARCH FOCUS, METHODOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY 1 Terminology, Research Focus and Methodology 2 Theories of Entrepreneurship PART III: NSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT AND MEASURES TAKEN TO CATALYSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SME SECTOR FORMATION 3 Rwanda: The Model Pupil? PART III: THE NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS IN RWANDA 4 Successful Entrepreneurs, Finance and Planning 5 Successful Entrepreneurs and Psychological Traits PART IV: THE NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS GIVEN BY ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS IN RWANDA 6 Searching for the Proto-Entrepreneur 7 Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Psychological Traits PART V: INTEGRATING THE FINDINGS 8 Resolving the Paradox References Index List of Tables -- PART ONE -- Chapter 1 Terminology, Research Focus and Methodology -- Chapter 2 Theories of Entrepreneurship -- PART TWO -- Chapter 3 Rwanda: the Model Pupil? PART THREE -- Chapter 4 Successful Entrepreneurs, Finance and Planning -- Chapter 5 Successful Entrepreneurs and Psychological Traits -- PART FOUR -- Chapter 6 Searching for the Proto-entrepreneur -- Chapter 7 Aspiring Entrepreneurs' Motives for Starting a Business -- PART FIVE -- Chapter 8 Resolving the Paradox -- References Exposes current policy myths around entrepreneurs and development in Africa, demonstrating the counterproductive consequences of misguided policy.