ABSTRACT
Entrepreneurs have generated creative ideas for many centuries, and across a range of industries. Two books have recently appeared addressing the issue of entrepreneurial creativity from different perspectives. They are compared and contrasted in this article. Historical precedents for innovation are examined in one, while contemporary examples are the focus of Tsang’s volume. Strategies used to encourage innovation in medieval and early modern towns inform on contemporary debates on the role of traditional industries in India. Experiments in new forms of production were encouraged, rather than deterred, and investment in training helped traditional crafts to retain a reputation for quality and develop regional specialisms. Both books highlight that necessity can encourage innovation, a situation which has parallels to current debates on frugal innovation in India.
