Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Latin America: A Systematic Review of Spanish-language Scientific Literature in Scopus and Scielo Databases

Resumen

Entrepreneurship, defined as the ability to conceive, develop, and execute new initiatives, plays a crucial role in societal value creation through innovation and risk-taking. Entrepreneurs, characterized by their visionary and proactive approach, drive economic growth and job creation by identifying opportunities and mobilizing resources. Sustainable entrepreneurship, aligning economic benefits with a positive societal and environmental impact, emphasizes the pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. This study aimed to identify evidence of sustainable entrepreneurship in Latin America through a systematic review. The evidence was gathered from the Scopus and Scielo databases and was presented in the Spanish language. The motivation behind this research was to bring visibility to studies conducted in the Latin American region. The main research question of this study was: What are the sustainable entrepreneurship experiences published in Spanish, particularly within the Scopus and Scielo databases? The initial results identified 19 articles through the search term "sustainable entrepreneurship," meeting detailed inclusion criteria. After applying 7 exclusion criteria, 12 references aligning with the study objectives remained. The research approaches varied, encompassing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. These articles originated from Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador, covering diverse sectors such as general services, education, and tourism, among others. Key findings emphasize the need for further research on this topic and underscore the relevance of studies from this region.