Exploring differences in the antisocial behaviors of adolescent rule-breaking that affect entrepreneurial persistence

PurposeThe authors explore the relationship between adolescent behavior and subsequent entrepreneurial persistence by drawing on scholarship from clinical psychology and criminology to examine different subtypes of antisocial behavior (nonaggressive antisocial behavior and aggressive antisocial behavior) that underlie adolescent rule breaking. The intersection of gender and socioeconomic status on these types of antisocial behavior and entrepreneurial persistence is also studied.Design/methodology/approachUsing a longitudinal research design, this study draws from a national representative survey of USA adolescents, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) (NLSY97). Nonaggressive antisocial behavior was assessed with a composite scale that measured economic self-interest and with a second measure that focused on substance abuse. Aggressive antisocial behavior was assessed as a measure of aggressive, destructive behaviors, such as fighting and property destruction. Entrepreneurial persistence was operationalized as years of self-employment experience, which is based on the number of years a respondent reported any self-employment.FindingsAggressive antisocial behavior is positively related to entrepreneurial persistence but nonaggressive antisocial behavior is not. This relationship is moderated by gender and socioeconomic status.Originality/valueThese findings contribute to research on the relationship between adolescent behavior and entrepreneurship in adulthood, the effect of antisocial behavior, and demographic intersectionality (by gender and socioeconomic status) in entrepreneurship. The authors surmise that the finding that self-employment for men from lower socioeconomic backgrounds involved in aggressive antisocial behavior was significantly higher compared to others may indicate that necessity entrepreneurship may be the primary driver of entrepreneurial activity for these individuals.

THE PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA: ADMINISTRATORS’ PERSPECTIVES

Youth entrepreneurship is an emerging enquiry, which is critical in addressing unemployment crisis among young people. This paper explored prospects and challenges of youth entrepreneurship in developing economy, Zanzibar in Tanzania. The paper adopted qualitative methods using thematic analysis techniques to derive prospects and challenges from recorded transcripts according to administrator’s perspective from public and private institutions responsible for entrepreneurship in the country. The study found that youth entrepreneurship is strategic initiative of transforming necessity entrepreneurship into opportunity entrepreneurship, stimulating innovation initiatives for solving challenges facing society, promoting sectoral linkage, job creation and building entrepreneurial culture. However, youth entrepreneurship is constrained internally by lack of funds, poor growth and sustainability of youth enterprises, lack of entrepreneurial mindset and alertness to opportunities, while externally by poor coordination of public institution responsible for entrepreneurship development, bureaucracy, and lack of family support. The study becomes empirical evidence on the importance of youth entrepreneurship and thereby recommended for policy intervention would ameliorate the challenges and helps build entrepreneurial culture for the development of entrepreneurship in the country.

Facilitating entrepreneurship in the failing Cuban economic model?

Purpose This study aims to understand the necessity of entrepreneurship in a poor emerging economy, where the supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem is not in place. Design/methodology/approach In the years 2015 and 2019, this study survey first-time small-scale emerging entrepreneurs within the new entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cuba. Findings The results suggest that the entrepreneurial environment has deteriorated and declined over this period. The study contributes to the understanding of high-vulnerability regions and poverty conditions as found in some emerging economies. This study contributes to the wider literature on policies that inhibit or stimulate necessity entrepreneurship in emerging economies. Originality/value The study responds to calls for a better understanding by offering new insights into necessity entrepreneurship in challenging contexts under poverty and crisis; and the ways for recovery. It provides insights into the underexplored Cuban economy.

Cross-country differences in drivers of female necessity entrepreneurship

This paper analyzes the drivers of female necessity entrepreneurship using a sample of 59 countries, with data sourced from the 2018–2019 global entrepreneurship monitor (GEM). It develops a theoretical framework describing how post-secondary education, startup skills, fear of failure, knowing another entrepreneur, entrepreneurial intentions, and hiring expectations act as drivers of female necessity entrepreneurship. Using qualitative comparative analysis, two models are tested to explain the presence and absence of female necessity entrepreneurship. This outcome is measured using the GEM indicator of total early-stage entrepreneurial activity.

Controversies and opportunities of two development measures for the advancement of women in Uganda: Formal education and Women entrepreneurship

Aim. The aim of the research is to investigate the relationship between formal education and female entrepreneurship in Uganda. This research hopes to contribute to the literature on education and women’s entrepreneurship in this country. Methods. Data is collected from 109 women through semi structured interviews. These are participants from the agribusiness sector and own businesses ranging from market stalls, retail shops to street businesses. Through the iterative process, emerging themes are analysed and discussed. Results. The research finds that formal education programs and macroeconomic policies negatively impact formal education and female entrepreneurship. Macroeconomic policies such as privatisation and the programs of universal formal education do not incentivize students (specifically female ones) to pursue a full formal education, influencing them to leave schools early for necessity entrepreneurship to meet immediate needs. Conclusions. Even though the study indicates that a formal education demonstrates high outcomes in terms of economic growth and development, the education level attained by women entrepreneurs is insufficient to meet true entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, the macroeconomic environment adds to the challenge of successful women entrepreneurship. Originality. Various economic initiatives have been implemented in the quest for gender parity in education and women empowerment in Uganda since its independence. Statistics have demonstrated an increase in women’s education and empowerment through entrepreneurship, however, such data do not necessarily reflect economic development. The results suggest that the relationship between formal education and women entrepreneurship is more complex and nuanced than previously believed.

A Case Study on the Entrepreneurial Process of Push and Pull Women Entrepreneurs

The study presents two entrepreneurship typologies: necessity-driven and opportunity-driven. ‘Opportunity’ entrepreneurs start a business to pursue an opportunity, while ‘necessity’ entrepreneurship is requirement-based and attempts for the best option available in the absence of alternate employment opportunities. Push and pull effects are analogous to necessity-based and opportunity-based entrepreneurship. The study explored success through stages of the entrepreneurial process. The push entrepreneur proved her resilience despite the absence of spousal support. Behind the pull entrepreneur’s success was spousal support. The key findings are that success is influenced by the entrepreneur’s grit, willpower and attitude. The objective of the case is to study two typologies of entrepreneurship, based on their motivation to become an entrepreneur—necessity-driven and opportunity-driven. It also examines the various factors that could influence the success of entrepreneurship. Both entrepreneurs discussed in the study had several common factors. The two succeeded in their entrepreneurship due to their sheer grit, determination and a feeling of higher purpose. Multiple pieces of evidences exist to show that grit is a success factor linked to positive outcomes. The phenomenon studied in this case include ‘opportunity’ and ‘necessity’ entrepreneurs. It also studied the push and pull effects in entrepreneurship, which are analogous to opportunity-based and necessity-based entrepreneurship. The push entrepreneur was involved in boutique business, and pull entrepreneur was in catering business. The findings are that the push entrepreneur demonstrated resilience despite many drawbacks. The success of the pull entrepreneur’s involved spousal support too. In both cases, the critical finding is that success is influenced by the entrepreneur’s grit, willpower and attitude. Further, neither of the women entrepreneurs took any loan to fund their business. Both entrepreneurs discussed in the study had a few common factors. Both of them were educated. The two entrepreneurs exhibited grit, determination and a feeling of higher purpose. Grit has been found to be a success factor and linked to positive outcomes.

Necessity or opportunity? Government size, tax policy, corruption, and implications for entrepreneurship

Government size, corruption, and tax policy can influence allocation towards necessity or opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. Using a comparative multi-source sample across 52 countries during 2005–2015, we apply a mixed-process estimation of the simultaneously unrelated system of equations and unpack these heterogeneous and complex effects. Interestingly, our results show that the influence of tax policy and corruption on necessity and opportunity entrepreneurship depends on government size. Our results hold for numerous robustness analyses. Plain English summary Institutions matter for the choice of opportunity and necessity-driven entrepreneurship. Government size, the level of corruption, and tax policy directly affect entrepreneurs’ motivation and incentives. We study 52 countries during 2005–2015 to find out to what extent tax rate, corruption, and a range of government expenditure change the allocation of necessity and opportunity entrepreneurship. Our main implications are for (1) Research: Formal and informal institutions need to be considered when studying entrepreneurship allocation, particularly in an emerging and developing country context. Results suggest that the impact of the same institutional settings and informal institutions such as corruption on necessity and opportunity entrepreneurship is not uniform in size and scope and have different magnitude. The effect of government expenditure on necessity and opportunity entrepreneurship is not ubiquitous. (2) Management: The broader institutional context affects allocation of entrepreneurship, and potential entrepreneurs can consider how corruption in particular can affect them. (3) Policy: Policymakerscan measure the extent to which opportunity and necessity entrepreneurship are likely to change, when they make changes to tax policy, resources for public spending, and take anti-corruption measures.