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The role of informal capital on new venture formation and growth in China

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  • Julie Elston
  • Sandy Chen
  • Alois Weidinger

Abstract

This study examines the nature and role of informal capital used by micro-firms in the dynamic emerging market of China. Using a unique source of data for 260 urban entrepreneurs, this study provides empirical evidence that entrepreneurs’ personal savings and family funding are important sources of start-up capital. However, household income was found to be the most important funding source in driving firm growth over time. This research directly addresses the lacuna of studies on entrepreneurship in emerging economies and contributes to our understanding of the critical role informal capital plays in the Chinese entrepreneurial process. Overall findings suggest that informal capital is still predominantly used over formal capital sources for financing firm start-up, underscoring the slow transition in China from an emerging to a modern economy. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

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  • Julie Elston & Sandy Chen & Alois Weidinger, 2016. "The role of informal capital on new venture formation and growth in China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 79-91, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:46:y:2016:i:1:p:79-91
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-015-9674-9
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    2. Canfei He & Jiangyong Lu & Haifeng Qian, 2019. "Entrepreneurship in China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 563-572, March.
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    4. Léon, Florian, 2019. "Long-term finance and entrepreneurship," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 1-1.
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    6. Anthony Howell, 2019. "Ethnic entrepreneurship, initial financing, and business performance in China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 697-712, March.
    7. Cheng, Peng & Wei, Jiuchang & Liu, Yang, 2024. "Give a plum in return for a peach: The effect of entrepreneurial informal financing on environmental corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    8. Simba, Amon & Martins Ogundana, Oyedele & Braune, Eric & Dana, Léo–Paul, 2023. "Community financing in entrepreneurship: A focus on women entrepreneurs in the developing world," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
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    11. Bach Nguyen & Nguyen Phuc Canh, 2021. "Formal and informal financing decisions of small businesses," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1545-1567, October.
    12. Andrea Fracasso & Kun Jiang, 2022. "The performance of private companies in China before and during the global financial crisis: firms’ characteristics and entrepreneurs’ attributes," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 803-836, May.
    13. S. Ramakrishna Velamuri & Wilson Liu, 2017. "Ownership structure, insider behavior, and IPO performance of SMEs in China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 771-793, March.
    14. Beverlley Madzikanda & Cai Li & Francis Tang Dabuo, 2021. "What Determines the Geography of Entrepreneurship? A Comparative Study Between Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 7(2), pages 246-262, July.
    15. Maribel Guerrero & Francisco Liñán & F. Rafael Cáceres-Carrasco, 2021. "The influence of ecosystems on the entrepreneurship process: a comparison across developed and developing economies," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1733-1759, December.
    16. Zhiyang Liu & Zuhui Xu & Zhao Zhou & Yong Li, 2019. "Buddhist entrepreneurs and new venture performance: the mediating role of entrepreneurial risk-taking," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 713-727, March.
    17. Mohd Nor Hakimin Bin Yusoff & Fakhrul Anwar Zainol & Mohammad Ismail & Razman Hafifi Redzuan & Rooshihan Merican Abdul Rahim Merican & Muhammad Ashlyzan Razik & Asyraf Afthanorhan, 2021. "The Role of Government Financial Support Programmes, Risk-Taking Propensity, and Self-Confidence on Propensity in Business Ventures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.
    18. Surender Mor & Sonu Madan & Geoffrey R. Archer & Arvind Ashta, 2020. "Survival of the Smallest: A Study of Microenterprises in Haryana, India," Millennial Asia, , vol. 11(1), pages 54-78, April.
    19. Gaylen N. Chandler & Michael S. McLeod & J. Christian Broberg & Alexander McKelvie & Dawn R. DeTienne, 2024. "Customer engagement patterns and new venture outcomes," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 1117-1138, October.
    20. Giancarlo Giudici & Massimiliano Guerini & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2018. "Reward-based crowdfunding of entrepreneurial projects: the effect of local altruism and localized social capital on proponents’ success," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 307-324, February.
    21. Mohamedou Bouasria & Arvind Ashta & Zaka Ratsimalahelo, 2020. "Bottlenecks to Financial Development, Financial Inclusion, and Microfinance: A Case Study of Mauritania," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-28, October.
    22. Wei Wang & Kimberly A. Eddleston & Francesco Chirico & Stephen X. Zhang & Qiaozhuan Liang & Wei Deng, 2023. "Family Diversity and Business Start-Up: Do Family Meals Feed the Fire of Entrepreneurship?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1265-1297, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Informal capital; New venture growth; Emerging markets; China; GOO; L26; O53;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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