Ghita Naaimy – Informal entrepreneurship in entrepreneurial ecosystems: Three essays on structural dynamics, intermediaries and digitalization – 22 février 2025

Defended on 22-02-2025

Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth and social resilience, particularly in developing countries, where it is often informal. The entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) encompasses all the actors and resources that support these activities, yet the place of informal entrepreneurship (IE) within it remains understudied. This PhD thesis aims to fill this gap by analysing the interactions between IE and EE, with a focus on digitalisation, intermediation by entrepreneurial support organisations (ESOs) and structural dynamics. The first study offers a systematic literature review on IE and EE, identifying theoretical gaps and new avenues for research. The second explores the role of ESOs as intermediaries that foster the integration of IE through training, financing and access to networks. The third examines the dual function of digital platforms, which facilitate market access while sustaining certain informal dynamics. The thesis thus proposes integrating IE into the conceptual framework of the EE and offers recommendations for more inclusive ecosystems.