The Jack-of-All-Trades Entrepreneur: Innate Talent or Acquired Skill?

Silva, Olmo

doi:10.2139/ssrn.928815

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The Jack-of-All-Trades Entrepreneur: Innate Talent or Acquired Skill?

IZA Discussion Paper No. 2264

12 Pages Posted: 8 Sep 2006

See all articles by Olmo Silva

Olmo Silva

London School of Economics (LSE) - Centre for Economic Performance; London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Department of Geography and Environment; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Date Written: August 2006

Abstract

Cross-sectional tests of the Jack-of-All-Trades theory of entrepreneurship invariably conclude that accumulation of balanced skill-mix across different fields of expertise stimulates entrepreneurship. Yet, none of these considers individual unobservable characteristics which may simultaneously determine skill accumulation and occupational choice. Using panel techniques to control for this, I show that gathering expertise across various subjects does not increase the chances of becoming entrepreneur.

Keywords: entrepreneurship, occupational choice, skills

JEL Classification: M13, J23, J24

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Silva, Olmo and Silva, Olmo, The Jack-of-All-Trades Entrepreneur: Innate Talent or Acquired Skill? (August 2006). IZA Discussion Paper No. 2264, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=928815 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.928815