Entrepreneurship and Role Models

30 Pages Posted: 6 Apr 2011 Last revised: 31 Oct 2014

See all articles by Niels Bosma

Niels Bosma

Utrecht University, Utrecht School of Economics; Vlerick Business School

Jolanda Hessels

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)

Veronique Schutjens

Utrecht University - Faculty of Geographical Sciences

Mirjam van Praag

University of Amsterdam - Department of Economics; Copenhagen Business School; Tinbergen Institute; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

I. Verheul

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE); Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM)

Date Written: March 30, 2011

Abstract

In the media role models are increasingly being acknowledged as an influential factor in explaining the reasons for the choice of occupation and career. Various conceptual studies have proposed links between role models and entrepreneurial intentions. However, empirical research aimed at establishing the importance of role models for (nascent) entrepreneurs is scarce. Knowledge of the presence of entrepreneurial role models, their specific functions and characteristics is therefore limited. Our explorative empirical study is a first step towards filling this gap. Our study is based on the outcomes of a questionnaire completed by a representative sample of 292 entrepreneurs in three major Dutch cities - entrepreneurs who have recently started up a business in the retail, hotel and restaurant sectors, business services and other services. We provide indications of the presence and importance of entrepreneurial role models, the function of these role models, the similarity between the entrepreneur and the role model, and the strength of their relationship.

Keywords: role models, entrepreneurs, human capital, new firm start-ups

JEL Classification: L26, M13, J24

Suggested Citation

Bosma, Niels and Hessels, Jolanda and Schutjens, Veronique and van Praag, Mirjam and van Praag, Mirjam and Verheul, Ingrid, Entrepreneurship and Role Models (March 30, 2011). Journal of Economic Psychology, Vol. 33, No. 2, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1803091

Niels Bosma (Contact Author)

Utrecht University, Utrecht School of Economics ( email )

Vredenburg 138
Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://econ.geo.uu.nl/bosma/bosma.html

Vlerick Business School ( email )

Library
REEP 1
Gent, BE-9000
Belgium

Jolanda Hessels

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands

Veronique Schutjens

Utrecht University - Faculty of Geographical Sciences ( email )

Postbus 80.115
3508 TC Utrecht
Netherlands

Mirjam Van Praag

University of Amsterdam - Department of Economics ( email )

Roetersstraat 11
Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands
+31 20 525 4096 (Phone)
+31 20 525 4182 (Fax)

Copenhagen Business School ( email )

Kilevej 14A
Frederiksberg, 2000
Denmark

Tinbergen Institute

Gustav Mahlerlaan
Amsterdam
Netherlands

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Schaumburg-Lippe-Str. 7 / 9
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Ingrid Verheul

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3062 PA Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands
+31 10 4081398 (Phone)
+31 10 4089146 (Fax)

Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM)

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands

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