Enterprise and Culture addresses the fundamental questions concerning the economic reinvigoration of society through policies aimed at encouraging the development of small enterprises. Governments in Europe, the rest of the industrialized world and developing countries are increasingly including small enterprise development as a central feature of economic and social policies. Nowhere was this more evident, than during the 1980s in Britain, as the Conservative government sought to establish an enterprise culture. However, despite an impressive growth in the numbers of people turning to self-employment, there is little evidence that British society has become more entrepreneurial or that the pursuit of enterprise has become part of the national culture. Colin Gray argues that the failure of small enterprise policy is not just a question of economics but is also caused by psychological and cultural factors. His book demonstrates that the individualism at the centre of enterprise culture policies is itself the main impediment to the successful growth and development of small enterprises.
The book also questions whether it is appropriate to give the amorphous figure of the 'entrepreneur' such significance in economic development policy. Gray contends that vibrant and progressive capitalism is a highly social enterprise and requires more collective approaches to its development if the economic rewards are to benefit local communities and society as a whole. Enterprise and Culture is a uniquely wide-ranging, insightful and well-informed critical evaluation of the economic and social project of creating an enterprise culture.