Profile

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Professional experience

Research

Holly Ritchie has a background in finance, international development (MA) and enterprise development with experience in Afghanistan (8 years) and Brazil. Her PhD research examines institutional transformation and construction in women’s enterprise development in Afghanistan, and the implications for broader economic development (International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University 2009-2013 (expected)). With a passion for pro-poor market development, she consults for various development agencies (including FAO and Oxfam) and government ministries in Afghanistan. (www.hollyaritchieconsulting.com) ................................................................................. PhD Research: There is an assumption that all entrepreneurship is productive, and will facilitate prosperity and peace. Holly Ritchie's PhD research explores nuanced entrepreneurial phenomena through the lens of (social) institutions, and the role of both actors (norms, power and individual motivations) and the local context in shaping economic development in the uncertain context of Afghanistan. Drawing on in-depth qualitative research, the research examines the creation and design of new market institutions (social innovations) in three women’s enterprises. The study highlights the strategies of the entrepreneur, local power holders and external actors (agency), and the influence of local conditions (structure) in the process of institutional construction. It is indicated that entrepreneurship can promote inclusive opportunities for (new) power and wealth through open institutions by certain entrepreneurs, even in fragile contexts. It can equally foster distorted economies if exclusive institutions are allowed to prevail.

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Teaching

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