Information Frictions and Entrepreneurship

Strategic Management Journal. 2021; 42: 491– 528. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3242

79 Pages Posted: 21 Apr 2015 Last revised: 11 Feb 2021

See all articles by Deepak Hegde

Deepak Hegde

New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business

Justin Tumlinson

University of Exeter Business School

Date Written: July 25, 2020

Abstract

Why do individuals become entrepreneurs? Why do some succeed? We propose two theories in which information frictions play a central role in answering these questions. Empirical analysis of two national longitudinal samples reveal the following patterns: (i) entrepreneurs have higher ability than employees with comparable education, (ii) employees have better education than equally able entrepreneurs, and (iii) entrepreneurs' earnings are higher and exhibit greater variance than employees with similar education. These, and other empirical tests support our asymmetric information theory of entrepreneurship that when information frictions cause firms to undervalue workers lacking traditional credentials, workers' quest to maximize their private returns drives the most able into successful entrepreneurship.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Asymmetric Information; Signaling; Education; Job-matching

JEL Classification: L26, J24

Suggested Citation

Hegde, Deepak and Tumlinson, Justin, Information Frictions and Entrepreneurship (July 25, 2020). Strategic Management Journal. 2021; 42: 491– 528. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3242, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2596846 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2596846

Deepak Hegde (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business ( email )

44 West 4th Street
Suite 9-160
New York, NY NY 10012
United States

Justin Tumlinson

University of Exeter Business School ( email )

Streatham Court
Xfi Building, Rennes Dr.
Exeter, EX4 4JH
United Kingdom

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