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The Good, the Bad, and the Talented: Entrepreneurial Talent and Other-Regarding Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Utz Weitzel

    (Utrecht University)

  • Diemo Urbig

    (Max Planck Institute of Economics)

  • Sameeksha Desai

    (University of Missouri Kansas City)

  • Zoltan Acs

    (George Mason University)

  • Mark Sanders

    (Utrecht University)

Abstract

Talent allocation models assume that entrepreneurial talent is selfish and thus allocates into unproductive or even destructive activities if these offer the highest private returns. This paper experimentally analyzes other-regarding preferences of entrepreneurial talent. We find that making a distinction between creative talent and business talent explains systematic differences in other-regarding behavior. Generally, business talent is less willing, and creative talent more willing, to forego private payoffs to avoid losses to others. A moderator analysis reveals that uncreative business talent is significantly less other-regarding than creative business talent, a finding applicable to both certain and risky payoffs with and without negative externalities. The paper makes a contribution to entrepreneurship research by qualifying the implications of talent allocation models and discovering the importance of distinguishing between the two types of entrepreneurial talent. We also add to the field of experimental economics by advancing research on social preferences under risk and with negative externalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Utz Weitzel & Diemo Urbig & Sameeksha Desai & Zoltan Acs & Mark Sanders, 2009. "The Good, the Bad, and the Talented: Entrepreneurial Talent and Other-Regarding Behavior," Jena Economics Research Papers 2009-066, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2009-066
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    File URL: https://oweb.b67.uni-jena.de/Papers/jerp2009/wp_2009_066.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social preference; entrepreneurship; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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