Entrepreneurship research: the French literature in perspective

Abstract This article reviews entrepreneurship literature available in French. We reviewed articles published in the following French journals: Management International; Revue Française de Gestion; and Revue Internationale PME, considered relevant venues for entrepreneurship research (LASCH and YAMI, 2008), and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria established and detailed in the methodology. This allowed us to identify 166 entrepreneurship articles published in French from 2006 to 2019. To analyze and categorize these studies, we highlighted their presence in the aforementioned journals, the number of articles published per year, their main research topics, their methodological approach and techniques, and the most prominent researchers. The results show the predominance of specific topics such as public policies and support to entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, entrepreneurial process and opportunities, women entrepreneurship, finance, entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial behavior, entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurs’ motivations, and social entrepreneurship. Theoretical-empirical, qualitative studies are prevailing, but there is also room for theoretical papers on entrepreneurship. Finally, several researchers contribute to the field, investigating, writing, and publishing articles on entrepreneurship. In conclusion, we observed the formation of a plural, multifaceted francophone entrepreneurship field that presents theoretical-methodological possibilities and alternatives for the development of research on entrepreneurial phenomena.