Introduction: Youth entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analysis the nature of youth entrepreneurship at the national level in both urban and rural areas and in specific sectors, and shows how it is affected by key factors including microfinance, social capital, and entrepreneurship education. It illustrates the multifaceted nature of youth entrepreneurship and argues for a more nuanced understanding of the term "entrepreneurship" and the situation faced by many African youth today. The book focuses on the process-oriented character of entrepreneurship "entrepreneuring" which is seen as a practice that affects and is affected by the economic, social, institutional, and cultural environment. Economic restructuring and the transformation of labour markets have resulted in limited employment opportunities for young people whose unemployment rates can be two to three times higher than the norm. An important aspect of the quantitative data collection was participating in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey.