Evasive Entrepreneurship

Abstract

We argue that evasive entrepreneurship is an important, although underrated, source of innovation, and provide the first systematic definition of the concept. We for-mulate four propositions of evasive entrepreneurship and illustrate them with a number of real life examples, ranging from a secret agreement among Chinese farmers in the 1970s to activities of rides-for-hire startups in the modern sharing economy. We demonstrate that while evasive entrepreneurship can either be productive, unproductive or destructive, it may prevent economic development from being stifled by existing institutions during times of rapid economic change. Furthermore, it can spur institutional change with important welfare effects.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Institutions, Regulation, Self-employment

JEL Classification: L5, M13, O31, P14.