A History of the Trajectory of Kirzner’s Economic Thought Toward the Consolidation of His Theory of Entrepreneurship

Abstract

The chapter aims to enhance the understanding of the development of Kirzner’s theory of entrepreneurship. To do so, elements in Kirzner’s works published up until 1973 that enclose the central points of this theory are studied. The chapter has four sections, in addition to the introduction and conclusion, that highlight the arguments that relate to Kirzner’s theory of entrepreneurship: (i) before the publication of his 1967 paper that presents the entrepreneurial function in the market process (1960–1967); between the 1967 paper and the publication of his most important book, Competition and Entrepreneurship, in 1973 (1967–1973); (iii) in Kirzner’s latest version of entrepreneurship theory as presented in his 1973 book; and (iv) the evolution of Kirzner’s thinking. The evolution of the author’s thinking regarding equilibrium and the entrepreneur is highlighted by presenting the different stages of his theory of entrepreneurship between 1960 and 1973.

Citation

Casonato, L. and Angeli, E. (2021), "A History of the Trajectory of Kirzner’s Economic Thought Toward the Consolidation of His Theory of Entrepreneurship", Fiorito, L., Scheall, S. and Suprinyak, C.E. (Ed.) Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology: Including a Selection of Papers Presented at the 2019 ALAHPE Conference (Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology, Vol. 39A), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 107-131. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0743-41542021000039A007