ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates whether entrepreneurship constitutes a route out of deprivation for those living in deprived areas. It argues that the beguilingly simple question of whether entrepreneurship constitutes a valid economic opportunity for those living in deprived areas. The chapter aims to provide both novel and clear definitions of 'entrepreneurship' and of 'returns', and addresses the central question of whether entrepreneurship is a 'route out of disadvantage'. It shows whether entrepreneurship constitutes a route out of disadvantage for those living in deprived areas. The chapter describes the likelihood of improvement — moving to a more prosperous Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). The official measure of deprivation in England is the IMD. To link the IMD to residential addresses each post sector in England - and thus each postcode - is assigned a deprivation rank expressed in percentiles from 1 to 100 based on the mean deprivation rankings of the postcodes within them.
