Entrepreneurial action is embedded within a variety of complex social structures, not all of whic... more Entrepreneurial action is embedded within a variety of complex social structures, not all of which can be as easily defined or measured as macro-institutional or micro-individual characteristics, b ...
Although business creation has become increasingly central to management theory, the process mech... more Although business creation has become increasingly central to management theory, the process mechanisms by which individuals start businesses and resolve preliminary doubts about their endeavors remain poorly understood. We propose new theory that examines one specific aspect of these mechanisms: the priorities founders emphasize when they begin to take entrepreneurial action. We argue that founders’ prior knowledge from industry and start-up experience influence these priorities so that experienced entrepreneurs are more likely to prioritize analytical actions when launching their businesses, but they produce divergent influences on other start-up priorities. Findings from our analysis of a nationally representative sample of U.S. business founders are consistent with our predictions. We also observe that some founders emphasize multiple priorities in their initial actions but experience predicts that these joint actions still include analytical activities. Our findings are useful for understanding why p...
Advances in Entrepreneurship, Firm Emergence and Growth, 2012
ABSTRACT Our research investigates how state-sponsored social protection is associated with under... more ABSTRACT Our research investigates how state-sponsored social protection is associated with undertaking the initial steps to start businesses in knowledge-intensive sectors. We define social protection as policies to protect individuals against economic risk. Although research generally shows a negative link between coordinated market economies and business creation, we highlight conditions when social protection may actually have positive consequences on entrepreneurial action. Specifically, these policies can encourage individuals to develop specific skills, which can be used by those who start businesses to pursue opportunities in knowledge-intensive sectors. Findings from a cross-national sample of individuals starting businesses in 16 advanced industrialized countries are consistent with this claim. We also find that educational attainment moderates this positive direct relationship. Our study is one of the first that provides new explanations for how welfare states can actually promote certain types of entrepreneurial action in highly coordinated economies by orienting their economic activity toward a system of highly skilled and productive labor.
The sociological perspective on entrepreneurship emphasizes the social context in which individua... more The sociological perspective on entrepreneurship emphasizes the social context in which individuals and their nascent firms exist. In this research, I focus more closely on two characteristics—state-sponsored social protection and individual investments in specific skills—to examine how prior experience shapes the entrepreneurial opportunities individuals pursue. To address the question of how experiences influence the entrepreneurial opportunities pursued, I test empirically if founders are more likely to start certain types of businesses based on the level of social protection available to them. Thus, I bridge two research streams – the organizational basis of entrepreneurship and the political role of social protection – to examine the types of businesses founders establish.
ABSTRACT This study examines how foreign direct investment (FDI) spurs entrepreneurial activity i... more ABSTRACT This study examines how foreign direct investment (FDI) spurs entrepreneurial activity in host countries. We also investigate why this relationship varies across countries because of domestic socio-political conditions. The findings from our panel analyses of 104 countries from 2000 to 2009 are consistent with our predictions that foreign direct investment positively relates to business creation and this positive effect is strongest in countries with poor institutional support, weak political stability, and low general human capital. Our work provides new insights into how cross-border investments and domestic socio-political conditions jointly influence entrepreneurial activity, especially in emerging and developing economies.
Page 1. A LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON OCCUPATIONAL INHERITANCE: SELF-EMPLOYED PARENTS AND THEIR CH... more Page 1. A LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON OCCUPATIONAL INHERITANCE: SELF-EMPLOYED PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN Howard E. Aldrich and Phillip H. Kim ABSTRACT Using a life course perspective, we develop ...
... Phillip H. Kim Department of Sociology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB 3210, H... more ... Phillip H. Kim Department of Sociology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB 3210, Hamilton Hall Chapel Hill, NC 27599 ... Moreover, budding entrepreneurs might be able to find ways around financial constraints, using various boot strapping methods for getting what ...
Entrepreneurial action is embedded within a variety of complex social structures, not all of whic... more Entrepreneurial action is embedded within a variety of complex social structures, not all of which can be as easily defined or measured as macro-institutional or micro-individual characteristics, b ...
Although business creation has become increasingly central to management theory, the process mech... more Although business creation has become increasingly central to management theory, the process mechanisms by which individuals start businesses and resolve preliminary doubts about their endeavors remain poorly understood. We propose new theory that examines one specific aspect of these mechanisms: the priorities founders emphasize when they begin to take entrepreneurial action. We argue that founders’ prior knowledge from industry and start-up experience influence these priorities so that experienced entrepreneurs are more likely to prioritize analytical actions when launching their businesses, but they produce divergent influences on other start-up priorities. Findings from our analysis of a nationally representative sample of U.S. business founders are consistent with our predictions. We also observe that some founders emphasize multiple priorities in their initial actions but experience predicts that these joint actions still include analytical activities. Our findings are useful for understanding why p...
Advances in Entrepreneurship, Firm Emergence and Growth, 2012
ABSTRACT Our research investigates how state-sponsored social protection is associated with under... more ABSTRACT Our research investigates how state-sponsored social protection is associated with undertaking the initial steps to start businesses in knowledge-intensive sectors. We define social protection as policies to protect individuals against economic risk. Although research generally shows a negative link between coordinated market economies and business creation, we highlight conditions when social protection may actually have positive consequences on entrepreneurial action. Specifically, these policies can encourage individuals to develop specific skills, which can be used by those who start businesses to pursue opportunities in knowledge-intensive sectors. Findings from a cross-national sample of individuals starting businesses in 16 advanced industrialized countries are consistent with this claim. We also find that educational attainment moderates this positive direct relationship. Our study is one of the first that provides new explanations for how welfare states can actually promote certain types of entrepreneurial action in highly coordinated economies by orienting their economic activity toward a system of highly skilled and productive labor.
The sociological perspective on entrepreneurship emphasizes the social context in which individua... more The sociological perspective on entrepreneurship emphasizes the social context in which individuals and their nascent firms exist. In this research, I focus more closely on two characteristics—state-sponsored social protection and individual investments in specific skills—to examine how prior experience shapes the entrepreneurial opportunities individuals pursue. To address the question of how experiences influence the entrepreneurial opportunities pursued, I test empirically if founders are more likely to start certain types of businesses based on the level of social protection available to them. Thus, I bridge two research streams – the organizational basis of entrepreneurship and the political role of social protection – to examine the types of businesses founders establish.
ABSTRACT This study examines how foreign direct investment (FDI) spurs entrepreneurial activity i... more ABSTRACT This study examines how foreign direct investment (FDI) spurs entrepreneurial activity in host countries. We also investigate why this relationship varies across countries because of domestic socio-political conditions. The findings from our panel analyses of 104 countries from 2000 to 2009 are consistent with our predictions that foreign direct investment positively relates to business creation and this positive effect is strongest in countries with poor institutional support, weak political stability, and low general human capital. Our work provides new insights into how cross-border investments and domestic socio-political conditions jointly influence entrepreneurial activity, especially in emerging and developing economies.
Page 1. A LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON OCCUPATIONAL INHERITANCE: SELF-EMPLOYED PARENTS AND THEIR CH... more Page 1. A LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON OCCUPATIONAL INHERITANCE: SELF-EMPLOYED PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN Howard E. Aldrich and Phillip H. Kim ABSTRACT Using a life course perspective, we develop ...
... Phillip H. Kim Department of Sociology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB 3210, H... more ... Phillip H. Kim Department of Sociology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB 3210, Hamilton Hall Chapel Hill, NC 27599 ... Moreover, budding entrepreneurs might be able to find ways around financial constraints, using various boot strapping methods for getting what ...
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