Articulo 2 Carlos dávila - Universidad del Pacífico

30
Apuntes 70, primer semestre 2012 /Dávila
Colombian Colombian entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, 1850-2000: 1850-2000: a a Micro-Cosmos Micro-Cosmos of of Latin Latin American
American
Entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurship? An An Approach Approach to to its its Main Main Features
Features
Abstract
Abstract
In this article the origins and basis of Colombian entrepreneurship since 1850
are examined and a number of their main features are outlined within the
framework of Latin American entrepreneurship. The article draws on Colombian
business historiography which, as in the case of Latin America as a whole,
shows an increase in output and quality since early 1990s. An overview of its
evolution is portrayed. The features of Colombian entrepreneurship dealt with
are: its regional basis in this, a «country of regions» with natural resources,
social and cultural differentiation; a pattern of high business and investment
diversification; the role of land as a means of accumulation; and the important
entrepreneurial performance of immigrants in this «non-immigrants land».
These traits constitute a legacy whose positive and negative aspects may be
critically scrutinized through theoretically oriented business history research.
In this perspective, some useful theoretical inputs are outlined.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, historical features, Colombian historiography, Latin
American historiography.