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    An Empirical Microeconomic Study of the Entrepreneur

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    Issue Date
    2007-12-03
    Author
    Leonard, John Mark
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    118 pages
    Type
    Dissertation
    Degree Level
    PH.D.
    Discipline
    Economics
    Rights
    This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
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    Abstract
    Entrepreneurs are an important segment of the economy, particularly in terms of economic development (Baumol, et al. 2007). However, the study of entrepreneurs and how they create firms is still an open question (Venkataraman 1998). In part, this question remains open as a result of the academic discussion about various definitions of entrepreneur and the identification of these individuals under each definition. This dissertation uses the Panel Survey of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) to study two questions about nascent entrepreneurs. The first question is about the identity of these nascent entrepreneurs and if they differ from the self-employed. The second question examines what happens to these nascent entrepreneurs over their periods of firm formation, where they may either successfully begin an operating firm or choose to quit the effort at firm formation. For the first question, a probability model of the decision to become an entrepreneur is analyzed. It is found that the self-employed are, in fact, a different group than nascent entrepreneurs, although there are similarities. The differences between these groups dominate the similarities. The differences support the contention of entrepreneurship researchers, such as Aldrich (1990), that researching only the self-employed as entrepreneurs introduces selection bias in the study of entrepreneurship. For the second question, a competing risks hazard model is used to estimate the effects of ability, optimism, resources, and management strategy on two possible outcomes for the nascent entrepreneur - successfully creating an operating firm or deciding instead to quit the effort. It is found that the nascent entrepreneur's ability, access to resources, and management strategy significantly affect the nascent entrepreneur's chances of getting a firm operational. However, only the self-employment status of the nascent entrepreneur has a significant effect on a nascent entrepreneur's decision to quit the effort of firm formation.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/4008
    Collections
    • Dissertations [4474]
    • Economics Dissertations and Theses [169]

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    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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