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A strategic behavior analysis of why ventures are risky for young people in Japan but not in Silicon Valley

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  • Rtischev, Dimitry

Abstract

The phenomenon of young people (under 30) starting or working in ventures is common in Silicon Valley but rare in Japan. Avoiding cultural attributions upon which many international comparisons of entrepreneurship are truncated, we apply strategic behavior theory to uncover a rational-choice basis for this phenomenon. We identify individual and organizational players, consider their strategies, and compare equilibria in the institutional context of Japan and the US. We pay close attention to how competition in Japanese educational, labor, and marriage markets differs from such competition in the US to identify factors which raise the career attraction of big firms and thereby fuel adverse selection that hurts ventures. Our conclusions challenge the stereotype that the founders and employees of Silicon Valley ventures are heroic risk-takers whereas the Japanese are much more risk-averse.

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  • Rtischev, Dimitry, 2017. "A strategic behavior analysis of why ventures are risky for young people in Japan but not in Silicon Valley," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 78-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:44:y:2017:i:c:p:78-89
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2017.03.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Naiki, Eriko & Ogane, Yuta, 2021. "Are Japanese Full-time Workers Conservative in Starting New Businesses?," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Honjo, Yuji & Kwak, Charee & Uchida, Hirofumi, 2022. "Initial funding and founders’ human capital: An empirical analysis using multiple surveys for start-up firms," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    3. Abhishek Kumbhat & Sushil, 2022. "Interactive Effect of Success Factors for High-Tech Startups: Value Propositions, Target Market and Operational Excellence," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 73-88, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ventures; Entrepreneurship; Japan; Silicon Valley; Innovation; IT industry;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact

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