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Non-Cognitive Skills and Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Performance: Evidence from Chinese Family Panel Studies

Author

Listed:
  • Shasha Zhang

    (College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Huaquan Zhang

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Ghulam Raza Sargani

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Qian Liu

    (Office of Academic Affairs, Hebei Open University, Shijiazhuang 050071, China)

  • Jin Tang

    (College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Xungang Zheng

    (College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

Abstract

Improving the entrepreneurial performance of farmers is conducive to increasing their income, reducing poverty, and securing livelihoods. In the quest for sustainable livelihoods, non-cognitive skills are becoming increasingly significant. Based on data from the 2018 Chinese Family Panel Study, this paper uses the ‘Big Five’ personality traits and a cross-sectional regression model to construct an indicator system to analyze farmers’ non-cognitive skills empirically and determine how these skills affect entrepreneurial performance. The results are as follows: (1) non-cognitive skills that significantly affect farmers’ entrepreneurial performance are, in order of influence, openness, extroversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. After considering endogeneity and substitution-explained variables, the above conclusions are still robust. (2) Heterogeneity analysis finds that farmers over 40 and those who start their businesses in cities have higher returns on non-cognitive entrepreneurship. (3) The paper confirms that non-cognitive skills improve farmers’ entrepreneurial performance through human and social capital effects. Therefore, entrepreneurs should consciously improve their non-cognitive skills by cultivating an enterprising and innovative spirit and social skills. The government’s entrepreneurship training for farmers should also focus on setting up courses in non-cognitive skills development to enhance farmers’ entrepreneurial literacy and skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Shasha Zhang & Huaquan Zhang & Ghulam Raza Sargani & Qian Liu & Jin Tang & Xungang Zheng, 2022. "Non-Cognitive Skills and Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Performance: Evidence from Chinese Family Panel Studies," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:8:p:1143-:d:878434
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