Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 21, No. 4, 2014 437
Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
The nature of entrepreneurship in bottom of the
pyramid markets
George Acheampong
Business School,
University of Ghana,
RT 5, Box LG 78, Legon, Accra – Ghana
E-mail: gacheampong@gmail.com
Mark Esposito*
Grenoble Graduate School of Business,
12, Rue Semard, F-38000, Grenoble, France
and
University of Cambridge, CPSL,
1 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1QA, UK
E-mail: mark.esposito@grenoble-em.com
*Corresponding author
Abstract: This study explored entrepreneurship in BOP markets in Ghana.
The study used a quantitative approach with data collected using returned
questionnaires from micro entrepreneurs in BOP markets in Ghana. The data
was analysed using inferential statistics (mainly exploratory factor analysis and
regression analysis). The study found a significant relationship between the
antecedents of entrepreneurship and the market characteristics while a
significant relationship exists between the BOP market characteristics and the
entrepreneurial benefits was observed. Again, a significant relationship was
found between the antecedent factors and the entrepreneurial benefits. The
study concludes that BOP market psychodynamic factors are more critical than
trait factors.
Keywords: bottom of the economic pyramid; BOP; entrepreneurship; Ghana;
poverty; emerging markets.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Acheampong, G. and
Esposito, M. (2014) ‘The nature of entrepreneurship in bottom of the pyramid
markets’, Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 21, No. 4,
pp.437–456.
Biographical notes: George Acheampong is a PhD candidate and Fellow of
the University of Ghana and University of Copenhagen. He is also a DANIDA
BSU/GEP Scholar. His interests are in how private enterprise can contribute to
African development. Some issues of interest include enterprise development,
ethnography and innovation; social network politics and analysis;
institutionalism; experimental designs; informal, BOP and rural economy and
patterns of poverty.
Mark Esposito is an Associate Professor of Business and Economics at
Grenoble Graduate School of Business in France and a Senior Associate for the
University of Cambridge Program for Sustainability Leadership in the UK. He