Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy

Publisher:: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Publication date:: 2021-02-01

ISBN:: 2045-2101

Issue Number

No. 14-1, December - December - November - November - November - November - October - September 2024

Latest documents

Impact of state capacity on entrepreneurship: does national developmental and technological level matter?
Purpose: The current study empirically examines the influence of state capacity on entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach: This research draws upon the national measures of 118 countries and employs a more robust measure of state capacity. Findings: The findings show a positive correlation between state capacity and entrepreneurship. However, the results reveal that the effect of state capacity on entrepreneurship is stronger in developing low-technology nations compared to developed high-technology nations. Research limitations/implications: When available, future research could employ more recent data to estimate the effects of state capacity on entrepreneurship. In addition to developmental and technological levels, various other factors can also be explored such as national culture and welfare regime type. Practical implications: The current study enables policymakers to identify factors critical in developing state capacity. Policymakers can also have better-tailored approaches for developing targeted initiatives and establishing entrepreneurship-supportive regulative institutional arrangements. Originality/value: Available literature lacks in empirically examining the influence of state capacity on entrepreneurship. The current study attempts to fill this gap.
Surviving the COVID-19 pandemic: European and African SMEs and domestic public policies compared
Purpose: The paper investigates factors that contribute to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) surviving major exogenous shocks. Global crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have increasingly heightened scholarly interest in post-crises responses. However, studies that compare the relative responses to external shocks and the outcomes for SMEs operating in different institutional settings are limited. We examine the relative degrees of success European and African SMEs experienced in avoiding the worst consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: We use the resource dependency theory (RDT) with variants of institutional theory since the RDT has been shown in practice to have greater explanatory power when used in this way. We augment our framework with a feminist theory dimension. To test our hypotheses, we apply regression analyses using cross-sectional data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys (WBES), which include responses from private enterprises in 26 European and eight African countries. We construct our data by combining the COVID-19 follow-up surveys with relevant firm-specific characteristics from the WBES conducted in 2020–2021 using firm-specific unique IDs. After removing the firms with missing observations, the sample number of SMEs is 15,178. Findings: Our empirical findings support the theoretically posited positive effects of innovativeness, institutional connectedness and governance capability on SMEs’ survival in the face of external shocks. Further, we confirm the importance of firm-specific characteristics (financial status, size and age) for SMEs’ survival. Female-owned SMEs are more likely to suffer during COVID-19, especially in Africa. The results are more nuanced when we consider industry specificity and heterogeneity of government support. Originality/value: Our article helps answer the theoretical (and policy-relevant) question of whether SMEs that are resilient to major exogenous shocks may share certain characteristics despite operating in different institutional environments. If that is so, then it may be that lessons from one continent may have at least some relevance for the other. Our approach’s broad value lies in its capacity to test the degree to which established bodies of theory developed in the Northern Hemisphere may be deployed in Africa, well beyond the contexts which provided their initial empirical basis. This paper also contributes to the literature on the effect of environmental-change shocks on entrepreneurship performance outcomes.
Personality traits, entrepreneurship education and green entrepreneurial intention of technical university students in Ghana: a multiple linear regression analysis
Purpose: Inadequate empirical evidence on the effect of personality traits, entrepreneurship education and university entrepreneurial support on green entrepreneurial intention outcomes among technical university students in Africa has hindered concrete policy interventions. Based on the planned behaviour and social cognitive theories, we assess the influence of personality traits and entrepreneurship education on green entrepreneurial intention of undergraduates at technical universities in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: We employed an explanatory cross-sectional survey comprising 1,329 Ghanaian undergraduate students to assess the research gap. An adapted 60-item instrument was used to measure outcomes for ten constructs (six personality traits, entrepreneurship education and green entrepreneurial intention) for the participants. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to model green entrepreneurial intention as a function of personality traits, entrepreneurship education and university entrepreneurial support while controlling for respondents’ background characteristics. Findings: We observed a significant direct positive effect of all the personality traits, except subjective social norms and need for achievement, on green entrepreneurial intention. There was also a significant direct positive effect of entrepreneurship curriculum, teaching methods and university entrepreneurial support on green entrepreneurial intention. Our findings further provide empirical data to inform educators, researchers, policymakers and practitioners on the design of pragmatic curriculum, policies and interventions to inspire students into green start-ups. Originality/value: This study is valuable for its novel approach of using an integrated theoretical and conceptual model to provide empirical validation for the burgeoning discourse around the impact of personality traits and entrepreneurship education on the green entrepreneurial intentions of technical university students in a developing nation. By synthesising diverse theoretical perspectives, this research enriches the understanding of how individual characteristics and educational experiences influence environmentally conscious entrepreneurial aspirations.
Structural and functional model of the entrepreneurial university
Purpose: In the past 30 years, the subject of “Entrepreneurial University” has been very popular in scientific publications, according to the effects of the entrepreneurial university on the urban economy. Researchers have conducted several studies to create an appropriate structure due to the new missions universities had after the introduction of this subject, but these efforts have sometimes led to the parallel work of the established units or the lack of responsible units for some goals within the university. Design/methodology/approach: The main goal of this study is to achieve the structural and functional model of an entrepreneurial university. For this purpose, 54 articles that specifically dealt with the creation and activities of the entrepreneurial university were studied using the thematic analysis method. Two groups of themes were categorized, one related to the structure of the entrepreneur university and the other related to the functions of the entrepreneur university. Findings: In the structural dimension; this study proposes to introduce the vice-chancellor of technology and entrepreneurship within the university, which has units such as the university incubator, the technology transfer office and other units related to entrepreneurship in its sub-category, and the government–industry relations office in charge of establishing government and industry relations within the university. In addition, to avoid the parallel work of the entrepreneurial units this study suggests using the level of technological readiness as an index for promoting to another unit. Originality/value: The findings can be used by policymakers in higher education and the national and local governments.
Exploring the influence of environmental, social and individual factors on the entrepreneurial intentions of Emirati university students
Purpose: This study aims to understand the factors influencing university students’ entrepreneurial intentions in a rapidly developing entrepreneurial country. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey of 324 Emirati students was conducted. Using a structural equation analysis, the study identified strong associations between positive attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived university and country-level support for entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. However, the relationship between social norms and intention was not direct, but an indirect relationship was found when coupled with self-efficacy and attitudes. Findings: The findings suggest that increasing public awareness and promoting entrepreneurship as a viable career option will significantly impact students’ entrepreneurial intentions in the UAE. Furthermore, providing practical educational and resource opportunities can facilitate the process of starting a business. Originality/value: This study contributes to entrepreneurship research by providing a unique perspective on the interrelationships among social, government and economic influences in an entrepreneurial context.
Do undergraduate art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets influence their intention to own a business?
Purpose: Drawing on a competency-based approach, this empirical study explores whether art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets (technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills) influence their intention to own a business and whether gender and/or business ownership influence their entrepreneurship skill sets. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 204 respondents were selected using a random sampling technique. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent sample tests and two-way ANOVA. Findings: The independent samples test revealed interesting results regarding art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets, distinguishing between those who own businesses and those who do not. The two-way ANOVA analysis indicated that certain factors significantly affect art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets while others do not. Practical implications: The findings suggest that higher education institutions should reconsider their curricular frameworks to better equip art and design graduates with not only artistic skills but also robust entrepreneurial competencies based on targeted training programs that could be developed to enhance the managerial and entrepreneurial skills among art and design students. Originality/value: This study addresses a gap in the literature by empirically examining the impact of entrepreneurship skill sets on the art and design students’ business ownership and investigating whether business ownership and/or gender influence their entrepreneurship skill sets, offering valuable insights for educational institutions and policymakers.
Exploring female entrepreneurship experience of Ireland’s business ecosystem: implications for business support
Purpose: This paper investigates the motivations and challenges of women entrepreneurs in Ireland, assessing the role of policies and Enterprise Ireland (EI) support for women-led companies and high potential start-ups (HPSUs). It employs the gendered theory of entrepreneurship and opportunity recognition theory to analyse the enablers and obstacles to women’s entrepreneurship, particularly in the context of EI’s support, aiming to suggest improvements. Design/methodology/approach: Grounded in a feminist epistemology and employing a mixed-methods approach, a targeted survey explores motivations, barriers and supports the needs of female entrepreneurs in Ireland, offering a comprehensive gender perspective evaluation for policy enhancement. Findings: Findings note a shift in Irish women’s entrepreneurship motivations and outlines major hurdles like limited funding and work–life balance issues. It recommends policy enhancements in data collection, website usability, financial guidance and childcare support. Practical implications: This paper aims to highlight the impact of gender-specific factors on entrepreneurship, the study highlights the importance of ongoing data collection and gender comparative analyses. It advocates for women mentoring networks and improved financial support to build a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment in Ireland, with potential global implications. Originality/value: This study is unique for its in-depth exploration into Irish female entrepreneurship challenges, this study proposes actionable strategies with local and global relevance. Advocating for caregiving support integration and women’s increased involvement in tech, it offers a blueprint for fostering female entrepreneurship. It contributes to global discussions on creating supportive, equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems, serving as a valuable resource for advancing gender inclusivity and equity in entrepreneurship worldwide. It identifies scope for integration of a feminist epistemology in policy development.
Assessing the role of risk-driven entrepreneurial actions in achieving sustainable development goals 1 and 2 in Africa: does democracy matter?
Purpose: This study rigorously examines the complex interplay between entrepreneurial risk-taking and the achievement of sustainable development goals 1 and 2, which focus on eradicating poverty and hunger, respectively. By conducting a comprehensive review of existing literature and empirical data, the research aims to unravel the direct impact of risk-oriented entrepreneurial activities on poverty and hunger alleviation. Moreover, it seeks to investigate the moderating role of democratic governance in shaping these effects within the context of African economies. Design/methodology/approach: By employing a Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) model and using annual and balanced panel data for 20 African countries over 21 years, we examine a potential regime switching as an original framework in the analysis of the curvilinear relationship between risk-driven entrepreneurial actions and sustainable development goals 1 and 2. Findings: Our empirical results confirm the presence of a specific threshold above which risk-oriented entrepreneurial actions proactively tackle poverty and hunger issues. The results also show that entrepreneurship associated with a good level of democracy is the fair tradeoff toward eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by the 2030th United Nations (UN) deadline. Originality/value: This study offers novel insights into the role of entrepreneurial risk-taking at the country level in achieving sustainable development goals 1 and 2. It advances research on entrepreneurship and sustainable development by demonstrating how a strong risk culture among entrepreneurs might make regions more developed while building on suitable institutional quality.
Experiences of women and minoritized US military veteran business owners: descriptive evidence on “vetrepreneur” survival and growth
Purpose: Publicly available datasets in the USA present data suppression issues that limit the ability to investigate entrepreneurial subgroups like military veterans, which account for about one in ten entrepreneurs in the USA. Thus, despite public desire to support veteran entrepreneurs (“vetrepreneurs”), there is a limited descriptive understanding on the relationship between veteran business owner demographics, such as gender and race, and their business survival and growth. We address this limited understanding in this article by providing descriptive evidence on veteran-owned business survival and growth, emphasizing variation across race and gender. Design/methodology/approach: We use limited-access longitudinal microdata to provide descriptive evidence on the survival and growth of veteran-owned firms across race and gender. Findings: Findings indicate statistically significant variation across demographic subgroups’ business survival and employment growth. For example, veteran-owned firms have high women ownership rates, greater employment, revenues and payrolls, but also lower employment and revenue growth. More generally we provide descriptive evidence that military experience or the military community help women overcome the gender gap in small business survival. Originality/value: This type of descriptive research is common among entrepreneurial researchers, however, peer-reviewed research specific to US veterans is very limited. These descriptive results are useful for policymakers and for spurring future policy research related to veteran entrepreneurs.
Barriers to scale: the effect of regulations on entrepreneurial strategies in a nascent industry
Purpose: This paper aims to discuss the effect of Canada’s regulatory framework on the strategies of entrepreneurial businesses during the first phase of legalization of the recreational cannabis industry. Decriminalization of cannabis required a host of regulatory changes at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Each province developed legal markets independently, differentially impacting entrepreneurial strategies. This paper describes the value chain that emerged in the first phase of the nascent industry, focusing on the actions of the businesses. Design/methodology/approach: The authors develop a qualitative narrative analysis using government publications, press articles (especially from the business press) and personal communications of industry insiders speaking in public settings. The paper includes four short case studies to illustrate the emerging value chain of the nascent industry. Findings: The study’s findings highlight the effect of regulatory frameworks on entrepreneurial strategies. We find that public policies had a significant impact on entrepreneurs and startup strategies. Inter-jurisdictional differences limited expansion into different provinces, with implications for regional economic development. Achieving public policy goals was delayed as a result of regulatory challenges that impacted industry development. Practical implications: The authors’ findings show enterprises may develop growth strategies that comply with regulations when participating in nascent industries, but they must cope with extra risks, capital costs and uncertainty. The analysis also illustrates the value of engaging in government-industry collaboration to improve emerging regulatory frameworks. Originality/value: The originality of this research consists of the detailed description of the first phase of Canada’s legalized recreational cannabis industry and the insight gained into the dynamics of nascent industries.