Microempreendedorismo inclusivo

: território, boas práticas e inovação : estudo de caso no Alto Minho

Abstract

The present research focuses on entrepreneurship, particularly on local microentrepreneurship, by studing how a network of partnerships facilitated by spatial proximity – between institutions from multiple sectors, between these institutions and microenterpreneurs and among microenterpreneurs themselves - can stimulate new microfinance solutions, capable of enhancing more inclusive microentrepreneurship. Microcredit has been studed as a great mechanism to combat poverty and to promote financial and social inclusion, through financial support to seft-employment and economic self-initiatives. In this dissertation, we also look at the potential of microcredit as a local economic development mechanism. Broadening the scope of microcredit, and satisfying local microentrepreneur’s needs, requires innovative practices, that combine credit with other financial and non-financial solutions, grounded on resources and synergies generated within the territories. The thesis is based on a case study carried out in the region of Alto Minho, focusing especially in Viana do Castelo and Vale do Lima, where a set of qualitative methodologies, including twelve life stories of microentrepreneurs and semi-diretive interviews and questionnaires to key institutional actors from public, banking and social economy sectors were builded. The existing local partnerships are described and discussed in view of the study hypotheses.The results corroborate the assumption that entrepreneurs benefit from multisetoral monitoring while developping their economic projects; the importance of trust relations to limit agency problems was also demonstrated; evidence of emerging collaborative dynamics have confirmed the potential of this territory as innovation space for inclusive microenterpreneurship.

Date of Award	14 Jul 2017
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Américo Mendes (Supervisor)