Entrepreneurial Factors Affecting Perceived Socioeconomic Success in One Belt One Road Initiative – A Study of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Abstract

Using the Multi Attribute Decision Making (MADM) approach and the Social Exchange theory, this study is amongst the first few studies to investigate the perceived socioeconomic success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) along with its antecedents i.e. entrepreneurial trust (in Government, media, enterprises and experts), entrepreneurial intention to invest in CPEC projects, and entrepreneurial information (information transparency and information acquisition). The data was collected through a cross-sectional design survey by 327 entrepreneurs in Pakistan. The results indicate that entrepreneurs’ trust and their intention to invest in CPEC positively impact the perceived socioeconomic success of CPEC in Pakistan. Information transparency and information acquisition both significantly moderate the relationships at low and medium level. However, in the study, information transparency and information acquisition became insignificant at high levels. This paper aims to fill gap in the current literature on entrepreneurial development by investigating the antecedents that potentially influence the perceived socioeconomic success of CPEC in Pakistan.

Keywords: CPEC, Entrepreneurs ‘Intentions, Perceived Socioeconomic Success, Entrepreneurs’ Trust, Information Transparency, OBOR