Entrepreneurial Diversity and Economic Growth
31 Pages
Posted: 27 Nov 2007
Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE); Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM)
Max Planck Society for the Advancement of the Sciences - Max Planck Institute for Economics
Date Written: October 30, 2007
Abstract
Most studies investigating the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic growth treat entrepreneurs as a homogeneous group. This study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial diversity on national economic growth. Using data for 36 countries participating in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor we investigate whether the impact on growth depends on socio-demographic diversity in entrepreneurship (in terms of age, education and gender). We find that in less developed countries older and higher educated entrepreneurs are particularly important for stimulating economic growth, while for developed countries younger entrepreneurs are more important. Accordingly, policy should aim at stimulating particular groups of entrepreneurs, rather than just the number of entrepreneurs.
Keywords: entrepreneurship, diversity, economic development
Suggested Citation:
Suggested Citation
Verheul, I. and van Stel, Andre J., Entrepreneurial Diversity and Economic Growth (October 30, 2007). ERIM Report Series Reference No. ERS-2007-070-ORG. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1032753
