MEASURING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPABILITY OF THE POPULATION: A COMPOSITE INDEX AND REGIONAL TYPOLOGY FOR UZBEKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22147979Abstract
This article develops a composite index for measuring the entrepreneurial capability of the
population at the regional level and applies it to the regions of Uzbekistan for the period 2015–2025. The index
combines an extensive dimension, reflecting how widely entrepreneurial activity is spread across the population,
with an intensive dimension, reflecting the value created per business entity. Weights are derived using the
entropy method, while sectoral share indicators are excluded because they reflect the structure of the economy
rather than entrepreneurial capability. The results show that the two dimensions moved in opposite directions
during the first part of the period, indicating that the quantitative expansion of small business was accompanied
by relatively weaker qualitative performance. The regional ranking is robust to alternative weighting schemes
and is consistent with independent indicators. On this basis, the regions are classified into four types suitable
for differentiated policy design.
Keywords
entrepreneurial capability, composite index, entropy weighting, regional typology, extensive and intensive dimensions, panel data.References
Audretsch D. B., Keilbach M. Entrepreneurship capital and economic performance // Regional Studies. –
– Vol. 38, No. 8. – P. 949–959.
Wennekers S., van Stel A., Thurik R., Reynolds P. Nascent entrepreneurship and the level of economic
development // Small Business Economics. – 2005. – Vol. 24, No. 3. – P. 293–309.
Carree M., van Stel A., Thurik R., Wennekers S. Economic development and business ownership: An
analysis using data of 23 OECD countries in the period 1976–1996 // Small Business Economics. – 2002.
– Vol. 19, No. 3. – P. 271–290.
Gries T., Naudé W. Entrepreneurship and human development: A capability approach // Journal of Public
Economics. – 2011. – Vol. 95, No. 3–4. – P. 216–224.
Baumol W. J. Entrepreneurship: Productive, unproductive, and destructive // Journal of Political Economy.
– 1990. – Vol. 98, No. 5. – P. 893–921.
OECD, Joint Research Centre. Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicators: Methodology and User
Guide. – Paris: OECD Publishing, 2008. – 158 p.
Shannon C. E. A mathematical theory of communication // Bell System Technical Journal. – 1948. – Vol.
, No. 3. – P. 379–423.
Acs Z. J., Autio E., Szerb L. National systems of entrepreneurship: Measurement issues and policy
implications // Research Policy. – 2014. – Vol. 43, No. 3. – P. 476–494.
Stam E., van de Ven A. Entrepreneurial ecosystem elements // Small Business Economics. – 2021. – Vol.
, No. 2. – P. 809–832.
Sen A. Commodities and Capabilities. – Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1985. – 130 p.
Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Information on Total Loans and Total Deposits of the Banking
System by Regions [Electronic resource]. – Tashkent: Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan. –
Accessed: 27.08.2026.
National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Official Statistics Database (SIAT) [Electronic
resource]. – Tashkent: National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. – Accessed: 27.08.2026.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 ECONOSCITECH INTEGRATION
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.