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The forgetting curve in entrepreneurship: decaying learning benefits of past entrepreneurial experience

Author

Listed:
  • Yancy Vaillant

    (TBS Education)

  • Ronald Mora-Esquivel

    (Costa Rica Institute of Technology (ITCR))

  • Marco Alvarado

    (Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología)

Abstract

The study presented in this paper sets out to identify the presence of a forgetting curve decaying the experiential learning benefits of serial entrepreneurs. To reach this objective the study applies a Zero-Inflated Poisson regression to a database of 518 Costa-Rican entrepreneurs with information covering the period from 2016 to 2019 that allows the analysis of the relationship between entrepreneurial experience and export market expansion through the lens of the forgetting curve. Findings confirm the presence of a forgetting curve and indicate that the slide down the forgetting curve is halted by entrepreneurial re-entry. The contribution of this study not only comes from the introduction of the concept of the forgetting curve to the study of the cognitive benefits of entrepreneurial experience, but also contributes to practice by highlighting potential advantages of encouraging the rapid re-entry into entrepreneurship of those facing an entrepreneurial exit.

Suggested Citation

  • Yancy Vaillant & Ronald Mora-Esquivel & Marco Alvarado, 2025. "The forgetting curve in entrepreneurship: decaying learning benefits of past entrepreneurial experience," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 11-36, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:64:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11187-024-00890-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-024-00890-7
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Forgetting curve; Serial entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurial experience; Experiential learning; Export diversity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

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