In Search of the Ideal Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

There is much discussion today questioning why entrepreneurs are not more successful throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A better entrepreneurial ecosystem is one recommendation, but this raises a question about which characteristics would be most beneficial to a MENA-specific ecosystem? This chapter surveys the most commonly cited academic literature on ecosystems and in particular, the work done by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. What emerges is that although entrepreneurial ecosystems are now common across MENA, they do not specifically address unique needs of MENA students wanting to become entrepreneurs.