The Schumpeterian entrepreneur

Résumé du document

In addition to institutions like private property, contract, and competition, "but also all conduct to be followed by individuals failing to meet with organized resistance", Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950) considers the movement as consubstantial with the capitalist society. It will identify a 'force'; an individual initiative. This is materialized by the figure of the entrepreneur and has become canonical in economic theory and it developed in 1911, in Theory of economic development. The Schumpeterian entrepreneur is responsible for the action that is the innovation, and has an agent or contractor. In an attempt to clarify the remarks of Schumpeter, we describe contractor, reserving the term contractor to the two aspects combined (company + contractor-agent). Far from being the lone cowboy facing the 'borders' and the resistance of society, or the brilliant inventor tinkering in his garage, the contractor agent assumes multiple profiles which have a biological basis. Not everyone can become an entrepreneur. Finally, the Schumpeterian theory, far from being neutral or objective have some attribute, based on a vision of man and men. Not everyone is entitled to a creative action; the routine is the norm for the mass.

Extraits

[...] Schumpeter, The Instability of Capitalism The Economic Journal Vol XXXVIII, September p 379. J. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, [1947 second edition], Payot p 32. J. Schumpeter, Theory of economic development op. cit., p Ibid, p 123. Ibid, p 134 and 136. J. Schumpeter, Business Cycles op. cit., p. 100-101. A. [...]

[...] The Schumpeterian entrepreneur takes the form of action, the company that is to say, innovation, and an agent, contractor. In an attempt to clarify the remarks of Schumpeter, we describe the latter of contractor staff, reserving the term contractor to the two aspects combined (company + contractor-agent). Far more than the lone cowboy facing the 'borders' and the resistance of society, or the brilliant inventor tinkering in his garage, the contractor agent assumes multiple profiles which is a biological basis. [...]

[...] On the basis of the social theories biologizing read André Pichot op. cit. J. Schumpeter, History of Economic Analysis. Volume The Age of Science, [1954], Gallimard, Bibliothèque des sciences p Capitalism has led Darwin (J. Schumpeter, History of Economic Analysis. Volume the classical age, [1954], Gallimard, Bibliothèque des sciences footnote p. 96). J. Schumpeter, Capitalism op. cit., p. 90. [...]

[...] The first is based on the routine. A regular operation, a passive response, brief daily management: the best method, "the most advantageous among the methods tested experimentally usual" The second, the company represents innovation, creativity. Most important in the eyes of Schumpeter is not the existence of new knowledge, new ideas, but their use in the business world. The function of invention and innovation function are separated, with the predominance of the latter as a pillar of economic dynamism. More generally, act according to routines, habits, according to the canon of the experiment is a standard, rational behavior. [...]

[...] Schumpeter's theory is based on eugenics. Echoing a theme biologizing social, he does not hesitate to use (among others), often without mention, Francis Galton (1822-1911) and the theme of the normal distribution of talent. He writes in the theory of economic development, a long footnote on page reproduced here in part, that "one quarter of the population is so poor in quality, say for the moment , to economic initiative that is reflected in the paucity of all legal persons, the smallest affairs of life or private life where this factor comes into play, the role played by him is pathetic. [...]