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Emergence of entrepreneurial behaviour: The role of age-based self-image

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  • Kautonen, Teemu
  • Hatak, Isabella
  • Kibler, Ewald
  • Wainwright, Thomas

Abstract

This study introduces an individual’s perception of their entrepreneurial potential in terms of their age (age-based self-image) to complement chronological age as a predictor of entrepreneurial behaviour. The principal hypothesis is that a positive age-based self-image enhances the likelihood of individuals turning their intention to start a business into actual behaviour. The empirical analysis based on data collected on the general adult population of Finland in 2011 and 2012 (n=672) supports this hypothesis. The analysis further shows that this positive effect is independent of the individual’s chronological age, and it is thus applicable to both age groups that are under-represented in entrepreneurship: ‘youngsters’ and ‘seniors’. Promoting the development of a positive age-based self-image is a prospective policy option for fostering entrepreneurship among younger and older age groups. More in-depth research, especially concerning the antecedents of positive age-based self-image, is required for the effectiveness of such policy interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Kautonen, Teemu & Hatak, Isabella & Kibler, Ewald & Wainwright, Thomas, 2015. "Emergence of entrepreneurial behaviour: The role of age-based self-image," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 41-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:50:y:2015:i:c:p:41-51
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2015.07.004
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    Cited by:

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    2. Meoli, Azzurra & Fini, Riccardo & Sobrero, Maurizio & Wiklund, Johan, 2020. "How entrepreneurial intentions influence entrepreneurial career choices: The moderating influence of social context," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).
    3. Gabriele Ruiu & Marco Breschi, 2019. "The Effect of Aging on the Innovative Behavior of Entrepreneurs," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(4), pages 1784-1807, December.
    4. Shahid, Pirzada Syed Rizwan, 2023. "Founder's Human Capital and the Entrepreneurial Process Duration," OSF Preprints yf6mg, Center for Open Science.
    5. van der Zwan, Peter & Hessels, Jolanda & Rietveld, Cornelius A., 2018. "Self-employment and satisfaction with life, work, and leisure," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 73-88.
    6. Mangirdas Morkunas, 2022. "Measuring the Level of the Youth Informal Economy in Lithuania in 2004–2020," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Murmann, Martin & Salmivaara, Virva & Kibler, Ewald, 2023. "How does late-career entrepreneurship relate to innovation?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    8. Victor Osadolor & Kalu Emmanuel Agbaeze & Ejikeme Emmanuel Isichei & Samuel Taiwo Olabosinde, 2021. "Entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention: The mediating role of the need for independence," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 17(4), pages 91-119.
    9. Păunescu Carmen & Blid Laura, 2017. "Seniorpreneur as a career option for smart active ageing. A study on Romania," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 826-833, July.
    10. Baert, Stijn & Norga, Jennifer & Thuy, Yannick & Van Hecke, Marieke, 2016. "Getting grey hairs in the labour market. An alternative experiment on age discrimination," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 86-101.
    11. Mikaela Backman & Johannes Hagen & Orsa Kekezi & Lucia Naldi & Tina Wallin, 2023. "In the Eye of the Storm: Entrepreneurs and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Crisis," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(3), pages 751-787, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Age; Self-image; Entrepreneurship; Inclusiveness; Entrepreneurial intentions; Occupational choice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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