Opportunity and/or necessity entrepreneurship? The impact of the socio-economic characteristics of entrepreneurs

Giacomin, Olivier and Janssen, Frank and Guyot, Jean-luc and Lohest, Olivier (2011): Opportunity and/or necessity entrepreneurship? The impact of the socio-economic characteristics of entrepreneurs.

Abstract

Few studies have tried to identify the impact of the socio-economic characteristics of entrepreneurs on their opportunity-necessity positioning. Based on a sample of 538 entrepreneurs, we point out that individuals who get involved in an entrepreneurial process, have encountered a situation of necessity and/or opportunity and that the latter can take various forms. We point out the impact of the socio-economic characteristics of entrepreneurs on the alignment of their project with a necessity or opportunity entrepreneurial dynamics. The existence of sub-profiles of entrepreneurs within the necessity-opportunity typology is also highlighted. We point out, for instance, that not all jobseekers are necessity entrepreneurs and that new venture creation based on family pressure may convey both a necessity and opportunity dimension. Finally, our survey reveals a new kind of entrepreneurship: the hobby entrepreneurship.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Necessity - Opportunity - motivations
• Subjects: L - Industrial Organization > L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior; L - Industrial Organization > L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior > L26 - Entrepreneurship

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