RESEARCH ARTICLE Configurations of sustainable development goals that promote sustainable entrepreneurship over time Ismael Moya‐Clemente 1 | Gabriela Ribes‐Giner 1 | Odette Pantoja‐Díaz 2 1 Faculty of Business Administration and Management, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain 2 Sistemas de Información, Gestión de la Tecnología e Innovación (SIGTI‐Research Group), Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador Correspondence Ismael Moya‐Clemente, Faculty of Business Administration and Management, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n 46022 Valencia, Spain. Email: imoya@esp.upv.es Abstract This paper examines sustainable entrepreneurship over time by focusing on the iden- tification of the combinations of environmental factors (clean water and sanitation, affordable clean energy, urgent action to combat climate change, and life on land) and economic development factors (decent work and economic growth). Based on data from 50 countries, it examines the causal configurations behind the manifesta- tions of these factors using fuzzy‐set qualitative comparison analysis. The variables and data were derived from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and the Sustainable Development Goals Index. Our key finding is that protecting and sustainably using terrestrial ecosystems always have a sufficiently positive effect to ensure a high level of sustainable entrepreneurship. Also, high levels of sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainable growth and decent work, plus good access to affordable and sustainable energy and clean water are related to promote sustainable entrepreneurship. KEYWORDS economic development factors, environmental factors, fuzzy‐set qualitative comparison analysis, sustainable development goals, sustainable entrepreneurship over time 1 | INTRODUCTION In recent years, the connection between entrepreneurship and sustain- able development has been recognized as an important issue in the search for possible solutions to achieve sustainability and to resolve the existing situation (Youssef et al., 2017). Unsustainable business practices have had a negative impact both socially and environmentally due to the misuse of natural resources and the nonconservation of the environment (Gast & Cesinger, 2017; Youssef et al., 2017). The principal pillar axes of sustainable development are ecology, society and economy, having principal concerns on people, planet and profit (Gast & Cesinger, 2017; Hall, Daneke, & Lenox, 2010). The literature on sustainable entrepreneurship includes the synchroni- zation between the economic, social, and environmental components (Muñoz & Cohen, 2017), where the rational use of resources and good care of the environment are central themes in order to ensure the well‐being of future generations (Crals & Vereeck, 2005; Hockerts & Wüstenhagen, 2010; Muñoz & Cohen, 2017). Its focus, whenever pos- sible, is to restore the equilibrium between society, environment, and economic exercises (Muñoz & Cohen, 2017; Ras & Vermeulen, 2009). In this sense, sustainable entrepreneurship remains to be seen as a possible solution, which tributes to sustainable development (Lans, Blok, & Wesselink, 2014; Muñoz & Cohen, 2017). On the other hand, entrepreneurs have detected the existence of noncovered niches, eager for eco‐friendly products for which a value offer in har- mony with the environment is highly accepted (Youssef et al., 2017). Sustainable entrepreneurship applies emerging models that reduce degradation and deforestation, neutralize climate change, improve ecosystems, enhance agriculture processes, and support biodiversity, constituting this type of entrepreneurship a solution to environmental issue (Patzelt & Shepherd, 2011; Shepherd & Patzelt, 2011; Youssef et al., 2017). Some of the principal beneficiaries of environmental entrepreneurship are investors, entrepreneurs, and societies (Shep- herd & Patzelt, 2011). Received: 27 June 2019 Revised: 11 September 2019 Accepted: 3 October 2019 DOI: 10.1002/sd.2009 Sustainable Development. 2019;1–13. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/sd 1