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The supply of high-quality entrepreneurs in developing countries: evidence from Nigeria

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  • Adedayo O Olofinyehun
  • Caleb M Adelowo
  • Abiodun A Egbetokun

Abstract

This article analyses entrepreneurial interest and practice as well as the impact of an education policy among a representative sample of highly educated young Nigerians. We use pooled cross-sectional data from 2007 and 2011 on about 27,000 undergraduates in over 50 schools. Our descriptive analyses reveal a high prevalence of interest in entrepreneurship but low prevalence of entrepreneurial practice. In a set of difference-in-differences estimation, the results show that compulsory entrepreneurship education stimulates entrepreneurial interest but does not reinforce it. Quite strikingly, we find that the rate of entrepreneurial practice diminished among students who were exposed to entrepreneurship education compared to the control sample. This suggests that entrepreneurship education improves selection into actual entrepreneurship practice by filtering out individuals with initial interest but with lower perceived success potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Adedayo O Olofinyehun & Caleb M Adelowo & Abiodun A Egbetokun, 2018. "The supply of high-quality entrepreneurs in developing countries: evidence from Nigeria," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 45(2), pages 269-282.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:45:y:2018:i:2:p:269-282.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/scipol/scx065
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Carmen BOGHEAN & Mihaela STATE & Carmen CHAȘOVSCHI & Carmen NĂSTASE, 2018. "Characteristics of Entrepreneurs in Newly Created Companies. A Comparative Analysis by Romanian Development Regions," Book chapters-LUMEN Proceedings, in: Carmen NĂSTASE (ed.), The 14th Economic International Conference: Strategies and Development Policies of Territories: International, Country, Region, City, Location Challen, edition 1, volume 6, chapter 13, pages 134-145, Editura Lumen.

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